Bhubaneswar: In view of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) assessment of below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall this year due to the impact of El Niño, the Odisha government has begun extensive preparations for the Kharif 2026 season.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, KV Singh Deo, chaired a high-level virtual review meeting on Wednesday and directed all district Collectors to work in close coordination with various departments, district administrations, and research institutions to protect the interests of farmers.
The government has asked the Odisha State Seed Corporation to ensure timely distribution of certified seeds by the first week of June, with priority given to remote and vulnerable areas. Special focus will be laid on short and medium duration varieties of paddy, pulses, oilseeds, and millets in low rainfall regions. Crop diversification will be encouraged in highlands and rain-fed areas. In case of delayed monsoon, the ‘Community Nursery’ system will be adopted and adequate buffer stocks of paddy, pulses, and oilseed seeds will be maintained to tackle any weather-related emergency.
The government will ensure uninterrupted supply of fertilizers to farmers through Markfed, PACS, and LAMPS. Despite uncertainties in the global market, fertilizer companies will continue their supply chain. A ‘zero tolerance’ policy will be followed against black marketing, illegal hoarding, and diversion of fertilizers for non-agricultural purposes. District Collectors have been instructed to keep strict vigil on the entire distribution process. Promotion of balanced nutrient management based on soil health cards, use of green manure, and water conservation practices will also be encouraged.
A special campaign will be launched at the district level to bring maximum farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The Odisha government will fully bear the farmer’s share of the premium, with farmers paying only a token amount of ₹1. Farmer registration has been made mandatory for availing benefits under PM-KISAN, CM-KISAN, subsidized fertilizers and seeds, and mandi facilities. District administrations have been directed to meet the targets at the earliest.
The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) through its Krishi Vigyan Kendras will provide weather-based and region-specific agricultural advisories, along with technical support on pest management and stress-tolerant crop varieties. Agricultural advisories will be displayed on district and state-level LED screens for wider reach. District emergency teams will remain active throughout the Kharif season, while field officers will regularly visit villages and interact directly with farmers.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Sachin Ramachandra Yadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Cooperatives Department, Dr. Parvati Kumar Rawal, Vice Chancellor, OUAT, Shubham Saxena, Director, Agriculture and Food Production, Kalunge Gorakh Waman, Director of Horticulture, Dr. Manorma Mohapatra, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar, and various district Collectors.
