Bhubaneswar: With Odisha witnessing 16% above-normal monsoon rainfall so far this year, agriculture officials are optimistic about a promising Kharif season, particularly for water-intensive crops like paddy, cotton, and potato. The assessment came during a review meeting of the Crop Weather Watch Group Committee held at Krushi Bhavan on Monday.
The meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, with IMD Bhubaneswar Director Dr. Manorama Mohapatra in attendance, along with other senior officials.
Officials noted that the surplus rainfall has created favourable agro-climatic conditions for Kharif cultivation across the state. Dr. Padhee emphasized the importance of ensuring timely delivery of high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and other critical inputs to farmers. He directed departmental officers to ensure that government support reaches the actual beneficiaries on the ground.
The Agriculture Department has been issuing real-time advisories to farmers based on inputs from the India Meteorological Department. These advisories, now available in both Odia and Sambalpuri languages, are also accessible through the Krushi Samruddhi Helpline. Dr. Padhee called for the expanded use of regional languages in future advisories to improve accessibility and effectiveness.
The meeting also included discussions on the distribution of agricultural resources, coordination with allied departments, and the strengthening of extension services. Special Secretary Dillip Parida, senior officials from the Agriculture and Horticulture Directorates, OUAT, Cooperation Department, and Water Resources Department were among those present.
