Agri dept signs MoUs with 4 corporations to boost farmer devpt

Bhubaneswar: The agriculture and farmers' empowerment department on Friday signed MoUs with four corporations for FY 2025-26 for development and welfare of farmers. The entities are Odisha Agro-Industrial Corporation (OAIC), Odisha Agriculture Promotion and Capital Investment Corporation Limited (APICOL), Odisha State Seed Corporation Limited (OSSC), and Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (OSCDCL).
Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who holds the portfolio of agriculture and farmers' empowerment, was present during signing of the MoUs. "We are fully committed to the progress and development of farmers," he said.
As per the deal, OAIC has set a target of purchasing 45,000 tonnes of fertilisers, organic fertilisers and pesticides worth Rs 20 crore, 7,000 tractors, 1,000 power tillers and other agricultural machinery. Additionally, it aims to implement 5,200 electric-powered small lift irrigation projects, 4,800 solar water tank projects, 1,000 shallow tube well projects, and allocate Rs 30 crore for construction this year. A total turnover of Rs 1,000 crore has been targeted.
Similarly, the partnership with OSSC aims to strengthen the seed production and supply chain in the state. The department will further empower farmers by ensuring the timely supply of certified seeds. Under this collaboration, both parties will work together to promote seed replacement and varietal improvement through a coordinated farmer awareness campaign. For this, a turnover target of Rs 56 crore has been set.
APICOL aims to create 6,500 business enterprises and provide subsidies worth Rs 250 crore. Out of this, Rs 200 crore is allocated for the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) and Rs 50 crore for the cold storage support scheme.
In FY 2025-26, the OSCDCL will undertake a 500-hectare hybrid cashew re-plantation programme and maintain trees over more than 1,336.22 hectares to strengthen cashew cultivation. Additionally, it has set a target for the production of 35 lakh hybrid cashew grafts from its existing 20 clonal nurseries.
Principal secretary of the department, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, was also present.