CUTTACK: To improve the economic condition of farmers, the district administration has been encouraging them take up soyabean cultivation. And the efforts have yielded desired results with 300 farmers cultivating soyabean in 550 acre in the district.

District agriculture officers claim soyabean cultivation ensures lucrative returns with less input for the farmers. . "A farmer has to spend only Rs 500 per acre while the government provides them seeds and fertilizers worth Rs 3,500 to boost oil seed farming," said an agriculture officer.