Bhubaneswar: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with four key state corporations for the financial year 2025–26, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening agricultural infrastructure and empowering farmers across the state.
The MoUs were signed at Lok Seva Bhavan in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. The corporations involved include Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation (OAIC), Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (APICOL), Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited (OSSC), and Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (OSCDCL).
Speaking at the event, Singh Deo lauded the efforts of the affiliated corporations and felicitated the Managing Directors of OAIC and APICOL for their outstanding performance in the previous financial year. He highlighted that the department had utilized 94.7% of its approved budget—one of the highest among state departments—and expressed confidence that this momentum of progress would continue.
Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation has set a target of achieving a turnover of ₹1,000 crore during FY 2025–26. This includes the procurement of 45,000 tonnes of fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and pesticides worth ₹20 crore, as well as the distribution of 7,000 tractors, 1,000 power tillers, and various agricultural machinery. The corporation also plans to implement 5,200 electric-powered small lift irrigation projects, 4,800 solar water tank projects, and 1,000 shallow tube well projects, alongside construction work worth ₹30 crore.
The partnership with Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited aims to enhance the seed production and supply chain in the state. The department will ensure the timely availability of certified seeds and promote seed replacement and varietal improvement through coordinated farmer awareness campaigns. A turnover target of ₹56 crore has been set under this collaboration.
The Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited plans to create 6,500 new agribusiness enterprises in the coming year. Subsidies worth ₹250 crore will be provided, including ₹200 crore under the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) and ₹50 crore under the Cold Storage Support Scheme.
Meanwhile, the Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd will undertake hybrid cashew replantation over 500 hectares and maintain plantations across more than 1,336 hectares. It has also set a target to produce 35 lakh hybrid cashew grafts through its 20 clonal nurseries.
The event was attended by Principal Secretary of the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director of Agriculture Shubham Saxena, Director of Horticulture Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, and other senior department officials.
