Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare on Saturday organised a National Workshop on pulse crops under the “Rashtriya Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission” at Amlaha in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Energy Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo participated in the workshop and highlighted the State’s initiatives and achievements in strengthening the agricultural sector, particularly in pulse production and farmer empowerment.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission was launched to make the country self-reliant in pulses and improve farmers’ livelihoods. He remarked that dependence on imported pulses is a matter of concern and stressed that the mission is not merely about increasing production, but also about empowering farmers and strengthening domestic agriculture.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh Deo said Odisha’s agricultural sector has witnessed significant growth and transformation in recent years, driven by strategic policy interventions, technological adoption and climate-resilient farming practices. He said the State Government is focusing on both enhancing productivity and ensuring farmer welfare.
He highlighted that while Odisha provides substantial input assistance to farmers for paddy cultivation, it has also launched the Comprehensive Project on Rice Fallow Management (CRFM) to promote crop diversification and self-reliance. The flagship initiative aims to convert large stretches of rice fallow land into productive fields by encouraging the cultivation of short-duration pulses and oilseeds during the rabi season.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that for the Rabi season 2025–26, demonstrations covering 3.5 lakh hectares have been planned across all districts of the State under the CRFM initiative. He expressed confidence that such progressive measures would help position Odisha as a leading agricultural development hub among the Purvodaya States.
Agriculture Ministers from several other States, Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) Dr Pravat Kumar Roul, and representatives from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) also attended the workshop.