Odisha Govt and IFPRI Host Training to Boost Data-Driven Agricultural Policymaking

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen evidence-based policymaking in the agricultural sector, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), conducted a two-day training program for government officials on April 22–23. The workshop focused on agricultural data interpretation, outcome assessment, and policy analysis.

This training forms part of IFPRI’s ongoing initiative — Food & Agricultural System Transformation Research (FASTR) — aimed at supporting Odisha’s efforts toward Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (IAT). As policy decisions increasingly depend on robust data systems and scientific evaluation, the workshop sought to build institutional capacity for using data effectively in governance.

Inaugurating the event, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, DAFE, highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking, stating, “Data is the new currency.” He stressed that such training initiatives would play a pivotal role in scaling up data-driven interventions across the agricultural sector.

Shubharanshu Mishra, Additional Secretary, DAFE, echoed this sentiment, noting, “Sourcing accurate information is key to problem-solving. Data is essential to optimize resources, and this training will support more effective, evidence-based decision-making.”

The training program covered a wide range of topics including:

• Visualization and interpretation of agricultural and geospatial datasets
• Designing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for agricultural schemes
• Application of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation methods
• Use of remote sensing tools and satellite data for agricultural planning

Dr. Roy, Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI, emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional capacity, saying, “As states like Odisha aim to achieve inclusive transformation, the ability to handle and interpret data is key. This workshop is one step toward embedding a culture of evidence in everyday decision-making.”

A central focus of the workshop was the integration of IAT indicators into Odisha’s routine monitoring systems, enabling the government to track progress on goals related to inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability in agriculture.

The training also reflects the ongoing collaboration between the Government of Odisha and IFPRI, which began with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2022. This partnership aims to develop policy-relevant indicators, conduct policy outreach, and enhance institutional capacities to ensure that Odisha’s agricultural transformation is inclusive, adaptive, and future-ready.