Odisha has strong potential to reach $1 billion in agricultural and processed-food exports and emerge as a major food-processing and agri-export hub in India by 2035, according to a new study by the Assocham Global Research and Strategy Centre.
Affirming his government’s commitment to empowering farmers across Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said concrete steps are being taken to give justice to the farming community ever since BJP came to power in the state one year ago. Addressing a state-level ‘Krushak Shakti Samabesh’ in Balangir, the Chief Minister said one of the major promises during the elections was to ensure rightful returns for the hard work of lakhs of farmers across the state. On Balangir’s growing political significance, the CM said two Ministers are now representing the district in the state cabinet. “Therefore, this is not just a double-engine but a triple-engine government. The district is now witnessing development at three times the earlier pace,” he said. Describing farmers as the backbone of Odisha’s rural economy, Majhi said that by May this year, the state had distributed over 78,681 agricultural machines, and disbursed subsidies amounting to Rs 459.68 crore directly to farmers. He emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji holds a deep respect for farmers, whom he refers to as the breadwinners. The state government is committed to providing irrigation facilities for as many farmers’ lands as possible for the growth of the farm sector, the CM said, adding that the government has set an ambitious target of providing irrigation for 1.5 million hectares of unirrigated land over the next five years. The Chief Minister said various farmer welfare me
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha is promoting the cultivation of vegetables in cluster mode across Odisha. Palladium as the Technical Support Unit under the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment together with APEDA, ORMAS and NABARD, has opened doors for Odisha’s farmers to global markets by enabling the export of fresh vegetable produce. Once known to be part of the remote KBK region, today three Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from the Titlagarh and Loisingha blocks of Balangir district namely Jaden Farmer Producer Company, Krushak Unnayan Sangathan Farmer Producer Company, and Undher Farmer Producer Company have exported 800 kilograms of high-quality fresh vegetables including Pointed Gourd, Okra, Bitter Gourd, and Ivy Gourd to Dubai. “Today is a proud day for Balangir district, as fresh vegetables from this district is being exported to Dubai. This has been possible because of the handholding support and constant encouragement of the PSFPO team from Palladium. I would like to thank the local farmers, FPOs, local NGOs, NABARD, ORMAS and district horticultural officers because of whose support and cooperation this was possible. I hope that this initiative continues”, said Prafulla Kumar Bhanja, Deputy Director Horticulture, Balangir
In one of India’s most climate-vulnerable agricultural belts, the International Rice Research Institute is quietly demonstrating how science-led interventions can translate into real income security for smallholders. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, has recognised IRRI’s work in strengthening drought resilience in Balangir district—an acknowledgment that underscores the growing importance of climate-adaptive agriculture in policy execution. The recognition was conferred by Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo during the district’s Krushi Mela, in the presence of local administration officials, marking a convergence of science, governance, and grassroots execution. Science at the Last Mile Balangir has long been emblematic of agrarian distress driven by erratic rainfall and recurring drought cycles. IRRI’s interventions, implemented under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF), have focused on taking research out of controlled environments and into farmers’ fields. Seed-based innovations have delivered measurable gains. Drought-tolerant varieties such as BRRI Dhan 69 have demonstrated yield advantages of up to 1.8 tonnes per hectare under water-stressed conditions. At the same time, climate-smart practices like mechanised direct-seeded rice (DSR) have reduced cultivation costs by nearly Rs 4,000 per acre compared to traditional methods. The impact extends beyond yields. Farmers are increasingly diversifying income streams through better use of fallow land, livestock integration, and community-led initiatives such as women’s self-help group-driven seed systems and nutrition gardens—creating a more resilient and diversified rural economy.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, has ordered a zero-tolerance campaign against black marketing, hoarding and the sale of substandard fertilizer. Officials say the aim is simple — keep chemical fertilizers available at authorised shops and at controlled prices so cultivators are not forced into the grey market. The numbers released on Tuesday show how far the drive has already gone this financial year. Enforcement teams have raided 11,684 fertilizer shops across the state. Show-cause notices have gone to 2,774 persons. Sales by 321 dealers have been temporarily stopped. Licences of 170 dealers have been suspended and 96 licences cancelled. Stocks of 12 erring dealers have been seized, and criminal cases registered against seven.
