Odisha Govt Accelerates Efforts for Self-Sufficiency in Rabi Potato Cultivation

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is making significant strides toward achieving self-sufficiency in potato production during the Rabi 2024 season. A high-level review meeting was held today at Krushi Bhavan, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, to assess the progress of the initiative aimed at enhancing farmers’ livelihoods and bolstering food security.

Singhdeo emphasized the importance of extensive potato cultivation under the state sector scheme, “Development of Potato, Vegetable, and Spices.” The initiative targets the cultivation of 15,023 hectares of potato during the current Rabi season. This ambitious effort is pivotal to strengthening the rural economy and ensuring the state’s agricultural sustainability.

To meet the cultivation target, 1,95,299 quintals of certified seed potatoes are required. The Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC) Ltd. has already sourced and verified 1,79,476 quintals of seeds from suppliers. Of this, 1,28,391 quintals have been dispatched to various districts, with approximately 1,03,000 quintals distributed to farmers, facilitating the planting of around 5,949 hectares so far.

The Deputy Chief Minister urged officials to accelerate seed distribution and planting efforts while ensuring timely input availability and technical support for farmers.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment has implemented several initiatives to ensure the program’s smooth execution:

• District-Level Coordination Meetings: Conducted under the leadership of Collectors-cum-District Magistrates to streamline grassroots efforts.
• Farmer Sensitization Campaigns: Awareness sessions in selected clusters to educate farmers about the initiative.
• Intensive IEC Activities: Television advertisements, leaflets, social media outreach, and farmer engagement meetings have been rolled out to enhance participation.

The meeting also addressed operational challenges and strategies to overcome them, emphasizing collaboration among stakeholders. District officials and senior representatives from the Department of Agriculture discussed solutions to expedite progress and ensure seamless implementation.

The review was attended by Principal Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director of Horticulture Nikhil Pawan Kayan, and other senior officials and district-level officers.

The Odisha government remains committed to making the state self-reliant in potato production. This initiative is expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity, improve farmers’ incomes, and secure food availability for the state’s population.