Bhubaneswar: In a high-level review meeting held under the chairmanship of Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (A&FE), Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, the progress of corporations and agencies under the department was thoroughly assessed. The meeting, held to enhance the efficiency and outreach of agricultural services in the state, was attended by Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, A&FE Department, along with other senior officials including Sri Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Director of Agriculture and Food Production, and Sri Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Director of Horticulture, Soil Conservation, and Watershed Development.
During the session, Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo focused on the achievement of the department’s targets and emphasized the need for transparency and efficiency in official operations. He urged the officials to ensure that services, guidance, and benefits reach farmers at the grassroots level, stressing the importance of supporting farmers in remote areas.
A key highlight of the discussion was the promotion of organic farming. The Deputy CM advised the department to popularize organic practices, while also creating necessary facilities for organic certification, marketing support, and infrastructure development.
The meeting concluded with the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Government of Odisha and various corporations under the A&FE Department’s administrative control. These corporations include Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation Limited, Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited, Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation, and the Agricultural Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd. (APICOL). The MoUs, signed for the financial year 2024-25, aim to bolster the state’s agricultural growth and support farmers through enhanced services and infrastructure.