Odisha’s Krushi Samruddhi Advisory System Wins DigiTech Award for Digital Agricultural Empowerment

Bhubaneswar: The Krushi Samruddhi Advisory System, a pioneering digital agriculture extension initiative by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Odisha, has been recognized with the prestigious “Jury Choice Award” in the category of Digital Initiative in Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment at the DigiTech Awards 2025 ceremony. The event was held on March 18 at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi, organized by the Economic Times Conclave.

In a statement of congratulations, Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, lauded the Department of Agriculture for this honor, emphasizing the importance of technology in empowering farmers. “This recognition reaffirms Odisha’s commitment to revolutionizing agriculture through data-driven advisories, improving farm productivity, and ensuring the well-being of farmers,” he said.

The state’s Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, also expressed his pride in the award, celebrating the digital initiative’s contribution to enhancing the livelihoods of farmers through accessible, timely, and relevant information.

The award was received by Vishal Gagan, IAS, Principal Resident Commissioner of the Government of Odisha, who represented the Department of Agriculture at the ceremony.

Krushi Samruddhi is a two-way, voice-based platform that bridges the gap in traditional agricultural extension services by offering real-time, personalized, audio-based advisories. It allows farmers to receive weekly voice messages and interact with agronomists, addressing their queries on various agricultural topics—from seed selection to post-harvest management.

The platform aims to counter the challenges posed by the high farmer-to-Village Agricultural Worker (VAW) ratio in Odisha, which stands at 2500:1, leading to limited one-on-one interactions. By integrating technology, Krushi Samruddhi provides real-time, customized support to farmers, ensuring they stay informed about best practices, government schemes, and price updates.

The initiative leverages the Krushak Odisha database to serve more than 75 lakh farmers across the state, providing over 2000 customized advisories based on data, needs, and regional requirements. Looking ahead, the government plans to integrate advanced AI/ML models, satellite data, and remote sensing technology to further refine and personalize the services, ensuring an even greater impact on the state’s farming community.