The Odisha Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four major corporations for the financial year 2025-26 to enhance agricultural infrastructure and farmer empowerment.
The agreements were formalised in the presence of Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, at Lok Seva Bhavan.
The corporations involved in the MoUs include:
- Odisha Agro-Industrial Corporation (OAIC)
- Odisha Agriculture Promotion and Capital Investment Corporation Limited (APICOL)
- Odisha State Seed Corporation Limited (OSSC)
- Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (OSCDCL)
Shri Singh Deo felicitated the Managing Directors of OAIC and APICOL for their outstanding performance in the previous financial year. He emphasised that the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department has successfully utilised 94.7% of its approved budget, demonstrating its commitment to farmer development and welfare.
Key Targets Under the MoUs:
- Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation aims to procure 45,000 tonnes of fertilisers and pesticides, 7,000 tractors, and 1,000 power tillers, alongside solar water tank projects and shallow tube well projects. The corporation has set a Rs 1,000 crore turnover target.
- Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited will focus on strengthening seed production and supply chains, ensuring the timely delivery of certified seeds to farmers. A Rs 56 crore turnover target has been set.
- Odisha Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation Limited plans to create 6,500 business enterprises and provide Rs 250 crore in subsidies, including Rs 200 crore for Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) and Rs 50 crore for Cold Storage Support Scheme.
- Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited will undertake 500 hectares of hybrid cashew replantation and maintain 1,336 hectares of cashew plantations, with a target of producing 35 lakh hybrid cashew grafts.
The event was attended by Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director of Agriculture, Shubham Saxena, Director of Horticulture, Shri Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, and other senior officials.
This initiative marks a major step toward agricultural modernisation, ensuring better resources, financial support, and infrastructure for farmers across Odisha.