MoU’s signed between Corporations and Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department

Bhubaneswar:2/5/25:Today, in the presence of Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo at Lok Seva Bhavan, the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department signed MoUs with four corporations for the financial year 2025-26. The corporations include Odisha Agro-Industrial Corporation (OAIC), Odisha Agriculture Promotion and Capital Investment Corporation Limited (APICOL), Odisha State Seed Corporation Limited (OSSC), Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (OSCDCL).

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Singh Deo felicitated the Managing Directors of Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation (OAIC) and The Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (APICOL) for their outstanding performance in the last year. Presenting the letter of appreciation, he said that all the affiliated corporations have shown excellent performance and this the path of progress should continue further. The Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department is one of the prominent departments that has spent the highest percentage of budget 94.7 percent of the approved budget. We are fully committed to the progress and development of farmers.

Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation has set a target of purchasing 45,000 tonnes of fertilizer, organic fertilizer and pesticides worth Rs. 20 crore, 7000 tractors, 1000 power tillers and other agricultural machinery, 5200 electric powered small lift irrigation projects, 4800 solar water tank projects, 1000 shallow tube well projects and Rs. 30 crore for construction work this year. A total turnover of Rs 1000 crore has been targeted.

Similarly, the partnership with Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited aims to strengthen the seed production and supply chain of Odisha. The Agriculture Department will further strengthen the farmers by ensuring a 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.

Odisha Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation Limited aims to create 6,500 business enterprises and provide subsidies worth Rs 250 crore. Out of which, 200 crores are for Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) and 50 crores for Cold Storage Support Scheme.

Accordingly, in the financial year 2025-26, the Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation ltd. will take up 500 hectares of hybrid cashew replantion programme and maintenance of trees over more than 1336.22 hectares to strengthen cashew cultivation in Odisha. In addition, it has a target for production of 35 lakhs hybrid cashew grafts from its existing 20 nos. of clonal nurseries.

Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director, Agriculture, Shri Shubham Saxena, Director, Horticulture, Shri Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, and senior officers of the department were present.