Bhubaneswar: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), Government of Odisha, has signed two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at advancing agricultural projects and digital transformation in the agricultural scenario of the state.
The first MoU was signed between the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Heifer International to support the value chain development of Ginger, Turmeric, & millets in Odisha.
This initiative focuses on enhancing farmer income and value chain development for ginger, turmeric, & millets (Shree Anna) producers in Odisha, fostering agricultural modernisation and market linkages.
The second MoU was executed between the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Department of Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, and M/s Tatwa Technologies Ltd. for operation, management & maintenance of Odisha’s digital mobile based extension service, Krushi Samrudhi Helpline. This MoU will help in the implementation of mobile-based digital Agri-service platform available at grassroot level. The project aims to create an open, farmer-centric value chain extension system, improving agricultural operations and outreach through digital innovation, real time basis crop, weather advisories.
The agreements were signed in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Energy Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, FARD & MSME Minister, Gokulananda Mallik highlighting the state government’s commitment to agricultural progress and technological adoption for the benefit of farmers.
Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo, said that, these two MoUs will help us to reach the unreached and provide government assistance during their need. FARD Minister Mallik highlighted how the real-time livestock advisories helped the farmers & rearers.
Principal Secretary, AG&FE, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee said that, Krushi Samrudhi Helpline program is a toll-free phone based advisory service by the Government of Odisha. Currently, the platform has 80+ lakh farmers on board and providing advisories on 70 crop types, 11 Livestock types & 3 fisheries practices.
Since its inception, it has sent 95,15,36,941 crop advisories, 40,88,27,235 Livestock advisories, 5,32,69,226 fishery and 26,04,19,107 weather and schematic advisories. The attendees include, Principal Secretary, FARD, Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Director, Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil Conservation, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, representatives from the Heifer project, M/s Tatwa technologies, senior officers from Agriculture & FARD department.
