Bhubaneswar witnessed a major milestone in agricultural collaboration as the Eastern Zonal Agriculture Conference 2026 brought together leaders from five eastern states to frame a roadmap for farmer welfare and soil conservation.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and agriculture ministers from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal joined the event. The conference focused on sustainable farming, revival of traditional crops, and regional agricultural integration under the Prime Minister’s “Purvodaya Mission.”
Chouhan praised Odisha’s record paddy procurement and called farmers “the true providers of life.” He urged a reduction in chemical fertiliser use and announced a forthcoming New Pesticide Act to curb counterfeit fertiliser and pesticide trade. He emphasised natural farming as essential for soil health and food safety.
Chief Minister Majhi highlighted Odisha’s pioneering initiatives, including the Samruddha Krushak Yojana, which offers Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy, benefiting 19 lakh farmers. He said over 51 lakh farmers receive Rs 10,000 annually through the combined CM Kisan and PM Kisan schemes. Majhi also announced plans to revive Forgotten Foods at the block level and expand organic farming, noting that Odisha’s organic rice is now used in Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasad.
The state’s agricultural roadmap includes cold storage facilities in all 58 subdivisions, Rs 1 crore subsidies under the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana, and expansion of coffee plantations across six districts. Majhi said these steps will make eastern India self-reliant in agriculture and strengthen the Purvodaya Mission’s vision.
