Odisha Leads Agricultural Innovation at Krushi Odisha Mela 2025

Bhubaneswar: The Krushi Odisha Mela 2025, Odisha’s flagship annual agricultural event organized by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, commenced today at the Biju Patnaik Ground, Bhubaneswar. This three-day event celebrates the state’s agricultural achievements while paving the way for transformative advancements in the sector.

The inaugural day featured a session titled “Transforming Agriculture Through Digital Interventions”, highlighting how technology is revolutionizing agriculture in Odisha and beyond. The session showcased Odisha’s leadership in leveraging digital tools to modernize farming and improve benefit delivery to farmers.

Prem Chandra Chaudhary, IAS, Director of Agriculture & Food Production, Odisha, opened the session, emphasizing the importance of digital interventions in modernizing agriculture. He lauded the state’s pioneering efforts in integrating systems like the Farmer Registry and Digital Crop Survey, placing Odisha at the forefront of agricultural digitization in India.

Several experts shared insights into cutting-edge digital solutions:

• Anay Gogate, Program Lead at Samagra, explained Odisha’s integrated agricultural data systems and the success of the Rice Fallow Management (RFM) scheme, aligning with the AgriStack vision for enhanced efficiency.
• Ravi Shankar, VP Agri at ONDC, discussed the Open Network for Digital Commerce, which facilitates collaboration across the agricultural value chain by enabling private players to deliver services through an interoperable network.
• Senthilkumar Natarajan, Head of Public Policy & Government Relations at NinjaCart, highlighted how an open data ecosystem can strengthen market linkages, standardize data, and optimize procurement through better aggregation of supply and demand.
• Kumarjit Mazumder, Director of Enterprise Solutions at SatSure, showcased the potential of space analytics for yield measurement, insurance claims, and credit access. He shared examples from SatSure’s AgriStack implementation in Uttar Pradesh.

Progressive farmer Sushree Sangita Dash provided an on-ground perspective, illustrating how digital initiatives have improved her farming practices. She recounted her interaction with Bill Gates during his visit to Odisha, underscoring the state’s global recognition for agricultural innovation.

Odisha’s commitment to integrating technology with agriculture not only sets a benchmark for other states but also aligns with the Government of India’s vision for a digital agricultural ecosystem. The Krushi Odisha Mela 2025 reflects the state’s proactive approach to empowering farmers, fostering inclusive growth, and positioning itself as a national leader in agricultural transformation.