14 farmers from Odisha to learn Malaysian farming techniques

Bhubaneswar: To modernise agricultural practices, 14 farmers from Odisha, accompanied by an equal number of agriculture officials, are embarking on an eight-day study tour to Malaysia to learn advanced farming techniques. They will start their journey on Saturday.
Deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who flagged off the delegation on Friday, emphasised that this initiative aligns with the Prime Minister's vision of doubling farmers' income. "Our farmers will study Malaysian cropping patterns and modern farming techniques, with the goal of implementing these practices back home and potentially expanding into export markets," he added.
In a departure from previous study tours, participants are required to maintain daily records of their experiences and submit comprehensive reports within three days of their return. "This isn't merely a sightseeing trip," Singh Deo stressed, adding that officials' compliance with reporting requirements will be considered during promotions.
The visit, organised under the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA), is a collaborative effort of the state's directorate of horticulture, department of agriculture and farmers empowerment, Bankers' Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow, and Nabard.
Principal secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee highlighted Odisha's agricultural achievements, including record production of 14.3 million tonnes of food grains and 14.48 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables last year. The state currently ranks fourth in rice supply to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and has successfully exported produce to Middle Eastern and European markets.
The delegation includes farmers from nine districts, with Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar contributing two farmers each. Niranjan Mohanty, a progressive farmer from Baiganbadi in Ganjam district, who cultivates high-yield crops on his two-acre plot, expressed enthusiasm about learning advanced farming technologies. Another participant, Ranjita Kumar Bisoyi from Bhanjanagar, hopes to study efficient irrigation practices in horticulture.
(With inputs from Hrusikesh Mohanty in Berhampur)