Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to the farming community, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi released Rs 1,025 crore under the CM-KISAN scheme on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
According to a release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), on this occasion, the Chief Minister has provided financial assistance of Rs 1,025 crore to 50,16,938 small and marginal farmers, 49,482 landless agricultural families, and 2,382 tribal farmer families under the CM Kisan Yojana for the 2025 Kharif crop season.
A total of 51 lakh farmers will be benefitted from this assistance. Notably, 25,532 urban farmers have been included in the scheme for the first time. The Chief Minister expressed hope that this advanced financial assistance will support farmers in their agricultural activities.
Chief Minister said that various farmer welfare schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Sri Anna Yojana, crop diversification and integrated farming programmes are being implemented in the state to increase farmers’ income and employment opportunities. He made these remarks on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya at a state-level Farmers’ Day celebration held at the OUAT farm at Baramunda in the State Capital.
The Chief Minister said that at the time of independence, our country was unable to feed its population of approximately 33 crore people. However, today, our country is self-sufficient in food grain and other food production and also exports agricultural products. India has become a prominent nation in exporting agricultural and allied products. After 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, agriculture and farmer welfare have received a new direction and dimension. Significant progress has been made in areas such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and the development of agricultural infrastructure.
He further stated that more than 60% of the state’s population depends on agriculture and allied activities, which contribute 22% to the state’s overall growth. Sharing his experience with farming, the Chief Minister said that agriculture is a labour-intensive profession. He praised and thanked the state’s farmers for their hard work, which has transformed the state from a food-deficient to a food-surplus state. The Chief Minister advised farmers to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The Chief Minister further stated that since our government came to power, we have been continuously working to increase farmers’ income. The previous government had only passed a resolution in the assembly regarding MSP, but we fulfilled our promise and provided MSP of Rs 3,100. It’s essential to have a good attitude towards farmers. Earlier, there was a lack of willpower, but now we have the determination to improve the lives of farmers. In the next five years, we aim to irrigate 15 lakh hectares of land with an investment of approximately Rs 1 lakh crore. We are taking steps to establish cold storage facilities in every subdivision. To increase farmers’ income, we are providing subsidies and necessary assistance for fisheries, animal husbandry, poultry farming, and other allied activities. We are with the farmers at every stage, from sowing to selling, and we will be there to support them in times of need.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister participated in the traditional ‘Akhi Muthi Anukula’ ritual, a ceremonial act of sowing seeds and ploughing land to mark the beginning of the agricultural season at the OUAT’s Baramunda Agricultural Educational Farm. He also released the book ‘Krushak Sangita Pustak, written by Swabhav Kabi Gangadhar Meher in 1921. The descendants of the Swabhav Kabi were present on the occasion.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, said that on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, farmers begin their agricultural activities. Our government stands with the farmers who produce the food we eat. We are working to provide markets for agricultural produce and ensure fair prices for farmers. The prosperity of farmers is linked to the prosperity of the state, and the prosperity of the state is linked to the prosperity of the country. He thanked the Chief Minister for providing advance financial assistance to farmers for agricultural activities.
During the programme, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh and OUAT Vice Chancellor Professor Pravat Kumar Roul delivered speeches.
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, welcomed everyone to the programme, and Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture, offered thanks.
