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Bhubaneswar: 3/01/24:Krushi Odisha 2025, a three-day agricultural extravaganza is inaugurated by CM Mohan Majhi at the Baramunda ground in Bhubaneswar today. Organized by the Odisha Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, this event seeks to highlight the state’s potential in sustainable farming practices, innovation, and investment prospects in agriculture, horticulture, food processing, fisheries, and animal husbandry. The three-day mega event will be held at the Biju Patnaik Playground, Baramunda from 3rd to 5th January.
Themed “A Step Towards Sustainable Food Systems,” this year’s event will focus on Climate Smart Agriculture, Organic Farming, and Water Governance. Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, alongside other dignitaries, graced the inaugural ceremony.
The first day is dedicated to Climate Resilient Food Systems and Climate Smart Horticulture, the second day to Soil Health and Natural Farming, and the third day to Pani Panchayat Pakhya Palan with Sustainable Water Governance. Over 10,000 participants, including farmers, self-help groups, farmer-producer organizations, NGOs, agri-entrepreneurs, exporters, students, and research scholars, are expected to attend. The event will feature 13 technical sessions, collaborations with government departments, ICAR, CGIAR, NGOs, and farmer-scientist interactions. More than 200 stalls will showcase advanced agricultural technologies, farm produce, and machinery, emphasizing the theme “Seeing is Believing”
Key attractions will be:
- Farmer-Scientist Interactions
- Seminars and Panel Discussions
- Live Demonstrations of Farm Machinery
- Virtual Experience Zones
- Experimental Learning Centres
Interactive activities like quizzes, debates, storytelling, skits, and a virtual experience zone are also planned. The government will felicitate progressive farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, SHGs, and FPOs from all 30 districts of Odisha for their excellence in innovative and sustainable farming practices.
Krushi Odisha 2025 promises to be a significant platform for knowledge sharing, networking, showcasing innovations in agriculture as well as empowering farmers and stakeholders to work towards a sustainable future.
The session was chaired and opened by Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Director of Agriculture & FP, who emphasized the critical role of digital interventions in modernising agriculture. Highlighting the Government of India’s focus on the Farmer Registry and Digital Crop Survey, he reinforced Odisha’s position as a leader in agricultural digitisation, setting the stage for a robust, future-ready system.
Following this, Anay Gogate, Program Lead (KONNECT & LEAP), Samagra, detailed how Odisha has established integrated agricultural data systems that seamlessly interact. He explained the tech tools deployed to simplify farming operations, as well as vertical, tech-enabled initiatives like the Rice Fallow Management (RFM) scheme, positioning the state as a frontrunner in implementing the AgriStack vision.
Ravi Shankar, VP of Agri, ONDC, shared insights on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), explaining its potential to transform the agri-ecosystem by enabling private players to deliver services to farmers through an open and interoperable network. He highlighted the role ONDC can play in fostering innovation and collaboration across the agri-value chain.
Senthilkumar Natarajan, Head of Public Policy & Government Relations, NinjaCart, stressed the importance of an open data ecosystem for improving market linkages. He outlined how standardized data and trust mechanisms can enable private players to optimize procurement by aggregating both supply and demand, creating a more efficient agricultural marketplace.
The use of advanced technology in agriculture was further elaborated by Kumarjit Mazumder, Director of Enterprise Solutions, SatSure. He explained how space analytics can be leveraged for yield measurement, procurement optimisation, insurance claims, and enabling access to credit for farmers. He also shared insights from SatSure’s work on AgriStack implementation in Uttar Pradesh.
The event concluded with a powerful on-ground perspective from Sushree Sangita Dash, a progressive farmer from Odisha. She shared real-world examples of how digital initiatives have improved benefit delivery to farmers and recounted her interaction with Bill Gates during his visit to Odisha, further underscoring the state’s leadership in agricultural transformation.
Odisha’s commitment to integrating technology with agriculture not only sets a benchmark for other states but also aligns seamlessly with the Government of India’s vision for a digital agricultural ecosystem. With initiatives like these, the state continues to lead the way in empowering farmers and driving inclusive growth in the sector.
