Odisha CM and Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo performed the ‘Akhi Muthi Anukula’

Bhubaneswar: 30/4/25:Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo today performed the ‘Akhi Muthi Anukula’ ritual, marking the beginning of the agricultural season with great fervor during the State-Level Krusak Dibas celebration at the OUAT (Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology) farm on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

Majhi extended his heartfelt greetings to all farmers in the state in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and MLA, Bhubaneswar-Ekamra, Babu Singh.

Chief Minister Majhi shared his deep emotional connection with agriculture and elaborated on the state government’s dedicated initiatives for the welfare of the farming community. On the occasion, he transferred financial assistance to farmers under the second installment of the CM-KISAN Yojana for the Kharif season 2025 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This installment benefits over 50.16 lakh small and marginal farmers, 49,482 landless agricultural families, and 2,382 tribal farming households, with a total DBT disbursement of approximately Rs 1,025 crore. Notably, for the first time, 25,532 urban farmers have also been included, ensuring inclusive outreach to all farming communities.

To celebrate agriculture as a noble and traditional profession, Majhi also relaunched the iconic “Krushak Sangeeta,” a poetic ode to farmers written by the legendary poet Swabhaba Kabi Gangadhar Meher. The Chief Minister also directed all Collectors and officials of the Agriculture and allied departments to ensure the effective utilization of CM-KISAN assistance and promote awareness at the local level.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, KV Singh Deo, encouraged all stakeholders to actively participate in government schemes for the welfare of farmers.

On this occasion, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, extended warm wishes to the farming community and emphasized the spiritual and seasonal significance of Akshaya Tritiya. He expressed satisfaction over the steady growth in agricultural productivity and appreciated the relentless efforts of departmental officials.

Various stalls were set up by key institutions, including the State Seed Testing Laboratory (SSTL), State Bio-Chemist Office (SBC), Directorate of Horticulture (DoH), State Farm Machinery Testing and Training Centre (SLFMTTC), and IFFCO. These showcased innovative agricultural inputs and machinery to encourage farmers and drive modernization of the sector.