Odisha Honoured as Best State for Agriculture at National Conclave

Odisha received the Agriculture Leadership Award at National Conclave

Odisha has been recognised as the Best State for Agriculture and has received the Agriculture Leadership Award. This award is given by the Agriculture Today Group, a well-known media organisation in the agriculture sector.

The award was presented at the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave held in New Delhi. It was a grand event attended by many important personalities. The award was received by Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, Farmers’ Empowerment, and Energy.

Award Presented in Presence of Top Leaders

The award ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, Former Chief Justice of India, Justice P. Sathasivam (Chairman of the Award Committee), and many other distinguished guests from India and abroad.

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed his happiness and said that the award is a result of the hard work, dedication, and innovation of the farmers of Odisha. He said, “I dedicate this award to the annadatas (food providers) of Odisha.”

He also thanked the Agriculture Today Group for this honour and said that Odisha is working hard to become a model state for sustainable agriculture in India.

Odisha’s Growth in Agriculture Recognised Nationally

This national award shows how much Odisha has progressed in agriculture. The state has made great improvements in farming practices, innovation, and inclusive growth.

In the financial year 2024–25, agriculture and allied sectors contributed about 19% to Odisha’s Gross State Value Added (GSVA). The growth rate of this sector was 3.3%, which is higher than the national average over the past five years.

Agriculture and related sectors are also the biggest employers in the state, giving work to 49% of the total workforce in Odisha. This shows how important farming is for the people of the state.

Strong Policies and Infrastructure Helped Odisha Grow

Odisha’s success is a result of its strong government policies, continuous support, and major investments in rural areas.

The state government has promoted crop diversification and encouraged climate-resilient farming practices. These steps have helped Odisha become one of the top-performing states in agriculture.

The state is also focusing on modern farming techniques, technology adoption, and better training for farmers to improve productivity and income.

High Rice Production and Machinery Usage

In the year 2023–24, Odisha produced 115.39 lakh metric tonnes of rice, which is equal to 174.83 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. This makes Odisha the fourth largest rice supplier to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Last year, Odisha also recorded the highest sale of tractors in India. This shows that more farmers in the state are using modern machines to improve their farming.

The state's farm power input reached 2.60 kilowatts per hectare in 2024–25. The government plans to increase this to 3.5 kilowatts per hectare by 2036, which will further help in increasing farm productivity.

Odisha’s Horticulture Products Go Global

Odisha is also doing well in horticulture. The state exported 121.82 metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables to countries in the Middle East and Europe.

Some of the exported products included dragon fruit, cashew nuts, mangoes, and many types of vegetables. These exports were made through the Biju Patnaik International Airport (Bhubaneswar) and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata).

Odisha is working hard to connect its farmers to global markets and ensure better prices for their produce.

Odisha’s Ranking in Crop Production

Odisha holds top positions in India in many crops:

2nd in overall fruit production
1st in sweet potato and paddy straw mushroom
2nd in brinjal and cabbage
3rd in cashew nuts
5th in watermelon, cauliflower, okra, tomato, lemon, and coconut

These rankings demonstrate Odisha's growth in various agricultural areas and its emergence as a leader in food production.

Conclave Attended by Many Eminent Guests

The Agriculture Leadership Conclave was attended by many important leaders. These included Union Minister of State for Skill Development and HRD, Jayanta Choudhury, CM of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, and Former Chief Justice of India, Justice P. Sathasivam.

Delegates from countries like the Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, and the Canadian High Commission also attended the event.

Representatives from corporates, health, education, research, banking, farm machinery, and pesticide companies were present. Their presence shows the growing importance of agriculture and Odisha’s leadership in this sector.

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