Odisha Accelerates Climate-Resilient Irrigation Efforts to Boost Agriculture

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is accelerating efforts to implement sustainable irrigation initiatives, with a strong emphasis on convergence and efficient expenditure. A high-level meeting on the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA) was convened on March 12, 2025, under the chairmanship of Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Anu Garg, IAS. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, FARD, Directors, and senior officers from key stakeholder departments.

During the discussion, Garg stressed the importance of effective interdepartmental coordination to enhance the impact of climate-smart interventions. A detailed progress report was presented on the OIIPCRA project, which covers 538 Minor Irrigation tanks across 15 districts. Various civil works, including headworks restoration, dam strengthening with stone riprap packing and turfing, and re-sectioning of dam profiles, have been completed in 157 Minor Irrigation Projects (MIPs), while 189 more are in progress. Additionally, 120 km of field channels have been developed to deliver irrigation water to 4,500 hectares of command area.

The meeting also reviewed support provided to Pani Panchayats (PPs) to promote participatory farm mechanization. Under this initiative, 113 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) have been set up, and 1,236 solar bore wells have been installed to provide irrigation for 6,180 hectares. The establishment of 688 pack houses, 125 metric tons of cold rooms, 592 preservation units, 131 sabji coolers, and 344 onion storage structures has enhanced post-harvest management, preventing losses and ensuring better market realization.

The project has also supported scientific pisciculture over 846.27 hectares, with 518 bio-floc units, 297 fishing drag nets, and 57 fish marketing vehicles provided to fisher cooperatives, Pani Panchayats, and women self-help groups (WSHGs). These interventions aim to increase fish production, improve harvesting techniques, and expand market access.

In addition to irrigation and aquaculture improvements, the project has contributed significantly to environmental sustainability. The introduction of green manuring over 13,604 hectares has added 10.88 lakh kg of nitrogen to the soil, while 236.71 kg of carbon sequestration has been achieved. Furthermore, adopting Dry Direct Seeded Rice (Dry DSR) techniques across 6,895 hectares has resulted in the reduction of 1.92 lakh kg of methane (CH4) emissions.