Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister-cum Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Wednesday underscored the need for timely and affordable seed supply to farmers ahead of the Kharif 2025 season, stating that no farmer in Odisha should face a shortage of quality seeds.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan, Singh Deo called for proactive steps to ensure the seamless distribution of seeds across the state, aligned with farmers’ preferences and seasonal requirements.
The meeting, convened by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, focused on assessing the supply, demand, and availability of seeds for the upcoming agricultural season.
Singh Deo stressed that not only should seeds reach farmers on time, but they must also meet quality standards. He directed officials to conduct regular sampling and testing of various seed varieties and to especially prioritize the procurement and supply of vegetable seeds.
He further highlighted that the state government is providing subsidies on seed purchases, which will benefit farmers with holdings of up to 2 and 3 hectares. Ensuring ease of access and affordability, he said, was key to empowering Odisha’s farming community.
Dr. Arabinda Padhee, Principal Secretary of the department, added that the state is well-prepared for Kharif 2025, with adequate seed stock and a clear focus on quality. Subsidies from both the Central and State governments will be disbursed to farmers through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
A detailed PowerPoint presentation on the requirement and availability of various seeds was also shared during the session.
Among others, Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture, Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, Director of Horticulture, and senior departmental officials participated in the discussion.
