Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: Odisha is poised to lead the way in inclusive and sustainable agricultural reforms. The ideas and collaborations fostered today will shape a resilient agricultural future where every farmer can thrive.
Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment & Energy Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said this while addressing a policy roundtable in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
He emphasized Odisha's commitment to equitable agricultural growth and said market linkages are crucial for empowering smallholder farmers. Through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), we are ensuring that farmers gain better access to equitable markets, enabling them to secure fair prices and improve their livelihoods.
Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment, reiterated that "Odisha's agriculture sector stands at the forefront of innovation and inclusivity and sustainability. As we deliberate on strategies today, let us focus on scaling these successes and ensuring that every farmer benefits from our shared vision’.
Together, we can make Odisha a model state for sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth.
The roundtable was structured around five critical themes, each addressing key areas for inclusive agricultural growth:
Inclusive Agricultural Transformation: Panelists discussed frameworks and validated indicators tailored to Odisha's agricultural context.
Enhancing Market Access: Deliberations focused on connecting smallholder farmers to equitable markets through innovations like geospatial data and value chain optimization.
Strengthening Climate Resilience: Participants explored adaptive strategies such as climate-smart agriculture, soil and water management, and crop diversification to address climate risks.
Empowering Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): Discussions highlighted structural reforms and best practices to enhance the sustainability of FPOs.
Advancing Data Integrity: The importance of real-time data systems for effective decision-making and program evaluation was underscored.
Dr Shahidur Rashid, South Asia Director at IFPRI, remarked, "This roundtable underscores the potential of evidence-based strategies to address challenges and harness opportunities for inclusive agricultural growth in Odisha. The discussions today will set benchmarks for the region."
The Policy Roundtable was hosted by Odisha government in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS).
