1st State-Level Consultative Workshop under Mukhyamantri Maka Mission held

1st State-Level Consultative Workshop under Mukhyamantri Maka Mission held
– Ten nos. of MOUs were signed between the FPCs and Maize Buyers, to strengthen the market framework

Bhubaneswar-26/09/2025 The first “State-Level Consultative Workshop under Mukhyamantri Maka Mission (MMM)” was held on 26 September 2025 in the Auditorium of Krushi Bhawan. Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, inaugurated the workshop. Dr. Pravat Ku. Roul, V.C., OUAT, Sri Chakravarti Singh Rathore, CEO, ORMAS, Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Director, Mission Shakti, Additional Director, AG&FE Smt. Litty Pattnayak attended the inaugural session as a guest of Honour. Sri Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture & F.P., delivered the welcome address.

The Principal Secretary, Agriculture & F.E., Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee briefed about the need and objectives of Mukhyamantri Maka Mission (MMM). Maize is becoming the second most important Cereal next to Paddy in the State. 15 districts & 45 blocks were covered under Mukhyamantri Maka Mission. This mission is a classic example of the whole-of-government approach, with the involvement of departments like Agriculture, Cooperation, Mission Shak,  TI, and ORMAS that have added more synergy to the program. The setting up of Vijayanagar Bio-Tech, a maize-based starch extraction plant in Nabarangpur, is going to be a prime mover of maize cultivation in the State. Regular buyer-seller meets have made a positive impact on maize marketing.

Dr. Pravat Ku. Roul, V.C., OUAT stated that the ethanol blending policy of the State Government has increased the area under Sweet Corn and Baby Corn, adding new dimensions
to maize cultivation in the State. While the Scientific Institutions like the Indian Institute of Maize Research, CIMMYT, and OUAT provide the technical backstopping for the maize cultivation and
value addition.

Sri Chakravarti Singh Rathore, CEO, ORMA,  stated that the mission has been launched with two integrated strategies, such as enhancing productivity & production of maize and collectivisation of the maize market to ensure better market price for maize growers. Sri Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture & F.P., mentioned the maize cultivation scenario in the country as well as in the State, and highlighted that the mission has helped the farmers to form FPCs and take up the cultivation and marketing of maize on a cluster approach basis.. Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Director, Mission Shakti, said that the overall objective of the mission is to strengthen the maize production ecosystem in the state,
Ten MOUs were signed between the FPCs and Maize Buyers, thus strengthening the market framework. The Mission District-wise distribution of FPCs is Jashipur FPCL ( Jashipur, Mayurbhanj), Rani Mahas FPCL (Komna, Nuapada), (Junagarh) Mata Dangari FPCL (Nabarangpur), Sabujima FPCL (Baipariguda, Koraput), Mahendragiri FPCL (Nuagada, Gajapati), CNEXT FPCL (Champua Keonjhar), Sabari Setu FPCL (Mathili Malkangiri), Gumapadar FPCL (K. Nuagaon Kandhamal), Ghumusara FPCL (Jagannathprasad, Ganjam). The ten buyers who signed the MOU are from poultry industries & ethanol manufacturing companies operating in different parts of Odisha.

The programme was coordinated by the ACCESS Development Services, which is the programme secretariat of the Mission. Representatives of Farmers Producer Companies, prominent maize buyers, officials of State Departments, and Scientists of Research Institutions participated in the State-Level Consultative Workshop. Detailed deliberations were made regarding the latest Maize Cultivation Technologies, the scope of Hybrid Seed Production, the setting up of customized Agro-Service centers, and the promotion of specialty Corn. At the end, JDA (P & O)-cum-Nodal Officer, MMM, Sri Bishnu Prasad Pattanaik offered a vote of thanks.