The ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ was officially launched at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar, with Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurating the event.
The occasion saw participation from Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, along with senior officials and agricultural scientists from both central and state governments.
The campaign aims to bring a transformative shift in Indian agriculture, with coordinated efforts taking place at 2,170 locations across the country where government officials and agricultural scientists are directly engaging with farmers.
In his address, Chouhan emphasized that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation is not only achieving record food grain production but also aspiring to become the food bank of the world.
He stated that farmers are not just ‘Annadata’ (food providers), but also ‘Jeevandata’ (life givers), playing a vital role in ensuring national food security and economic stability. He noted that India’s farmers are now capable of feeding more than 145 crore citizens and producing surplus for global export. He highlighted the importance of turning agriculture into a profitable enterprise by boosting production and reducing input costs.
To aid this goal, the central government is offering an interest subsidy of up to 4% on agricultural loans under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, which can potentially reduce farmers’ interest burden to zero when state government contributions are added.
He also praised the Odisha government’s efforts to develop irrigation infrastructure, particularly its plan to irrigate 15 lakh hectares of farmland. Climate-resilient farming is being supported through schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which provides compensation for crop losses due to natural disasters.
Chouhan also lauded the high-quality agricultural produce of Odisha, including paddy, mangoes, organic rice, and turmeric. Stressing the importance of scientific input in farming, he announced that over 16,000 scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are actively participating in the campaign to connect lab innovations with field practices.
These scientists will visit villages, understand local challenges, and offer customized solutions based on natural and geographical conditions, thereby accelerating growth in crop productivity.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed pride that this national campaign commenced in Odisha and conveyed his best wishes for its success. In addition to the launch event, Chouhan also inaugurated a mango exhibition at the Central Horticulture Experiment Station in Bhubaneswar, further showcasing the state’s agricultural strengths.
