Odisha Pushes High-Value Horticulture, Export-Oriented Farming to Raise Farmers’ Income

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is looking to expand high-value and climate-resilient horticulture while improving the quality of farm produce for domestic and international markets, with the government laying emphasis on stronger field-level implementation of schemes and closer engagement between officers and farmers.

The priorities were discussed at a state-level conference of horticulture officers organised by the Directorate of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment at Krushi Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo called upon horticulture officers to spend more time in the field and maintain direct contact with farmers. He asked officials to understand the actual challenges faced by cultivators and provide solutions that can be implemented on the ground.

Singh Deo also stressed the need for regular monitoring of government schemes to ensure that their benefits reach farmers as intended. He directed officials to put the knowledge acquired through departmental training programmes into practice and instructed all officials, including the Director of Horticulture, to submit monthly reports of their field visits.

With Odisha having favourable soil and climatic conditions for horticultural production, the conference focused on ways to diversify farming, improve productivity and create better income opportunities for cultivators.

One of the key areas discussed was the expansion of oil palm cultivation to contribute towards reducing the country’s dependence on imported edible oil. Officials also discussed improving the quality and standardisation of horticultural produce to tap international export markets.

The conference further emphasised cultivation of high-value crops and commercial floriculture as avenues for increasing returns from agricultural land. The focus was on encouraging farmers to move towards crops and farming activities that offer higher economic value while supporting diversification.

Technical sessions covered modern cultivation practices, advanced agricultural technologies, implementation of government schemes, post-harvest management and direct farmer-to-consumer marketing. The discussions aimed at strengthening the entire horticulture value chain, from production to marketing.

The event also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Khety Agro Pvt. Ltd. and the Directorate of Horticulture to promote climate-resilient agriculture in Odisha. The collaboration is expected to support modern farming practices and contribute to improving the resilience and sustainability of agricultural livelihoods.