In a virtual review meeting held today, Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, assessed the progress of key national initiatives, including the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) and PM-Awas Yojana. Joining him was Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani.
Representing Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who holds the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy portfolio, highlighted the state’s impressive achievements.
He emphasised Odisha’s effective use of 88% of allocated funds under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, aimed at revitalising rainfed and degraded lands through integrated watershed management. This approach not only boosts agricultural productivity but also empowers local communities for long-term livelihood sustainability.
Singh Deo proposed key policy enhancements, including raising the unit cost per hectare from ₹22,000 to ₹26,000 in plain areas and from ₹28,000 to ₹35,000 in hilly regions under WDC.
He expressed gratitude to the Union Agriculture Minister for selecting four Odisha districts—Nuapada, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, and Sundargarh—under the Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, also known as the Aspirational Agricultural District Program.
Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secy, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), Subrat Kumar Panda, Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development and senior officials from the state’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department were in attendance.
