Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards enhancing agricultural practices and promoting global learning, a 28-member delegation from Odisha—comprising 14 farmers and 14 officials—has embarked on a week-long exposure visit to Malaysia. The visit, organized under the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA), was officially flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
Addressing the delegation before departure, Singh Deo emphasized Odisha’s growing prominence in agriculture, particularly in the export of fruits and vegetables. He noted that the state currently ranks fourth in rice supply to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), underscoring its vital role in national food security. He urged the team to actively engage with the latest agricultural techniques, including scientific farming methods and advanced machinery, with the goal of replicating successful practices back home to double farmers’ incomes.
The visit aims to expose farmers and officials to modern agricultural innovations, climate-resilient techniques, and sustainable farming practices used in Malaysia. Participants have been advised to maintain detailed daily records of their experiences and share insights with local farming communities upon their return.
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, highlighted Odisha’s impressive agricultural performance, citing the record production of 14.3 million tonnes of food grains and 14.48 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables in the previous year. He also pointed out the state’s increasing exports to international markets, including countries in the Middle East and Europe.
The visit is being jointly coordinated by the Directorate of Horticulture, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow, and NABARD.
Key officials including Director of Horticulture Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Director of Agriculture Shubham Saxena, and Project Director of OIIPCRA Rashmi Ranjan Nayak were present at the send-off event.
The team is expected to return with valuable insights that could shape the future of agriculture in Odisha, contributing to increased productivity, sustainability, and prosperity for the state’s farming community.
