Bhubaneswar, 20 December (H.S.): In a major step towards building climate resilience in the agriculture sector, the Government of Odisha, through the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), on Saturday convened a high-level inception workshop to formalise the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Alliance for Odisha. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) and Catalyst Management Services (CMS).

The Alliance aims to scale climate-resilient farming practices across the state by bringing together senior government officials, research institutions, private sector partners, civil society organisations, development agencies, and policy experts.

Addressing the workshop, Principal Secretary, DAFE, Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, said climate change cannot be addressed in isolation and requires coordinated mitigation and adaptation efforts. He noted that the Odisha Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance (OCSAA) will serve as a platform to implement and scale priority climate-smart technologies identified by CSTEP, while integrating climate resilience into agricultural planning and programmes. The focus will include soil and water conservation, promotion of climate-resilient crops, diversified farming systems, horticulture, use of digital tools and data-driven decision-making, and mobilisation of public, private and blended finance.

OUAT Vice-Chancellor Prof Pravat Kumar Roul highlighted that the impacts of climate change are already evident and stressed the need for collective efforts to make agriculture more resilient to ensure long-term food and nutrition security.

Director, Soil Conservation and Watershed Development, Shri Subrat Kumar Panda, emphasised that climate-smart agriculture is no longer optional but central to protecting farmer livelihoods and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth.

Representing CSTEP, Dr Indu K. Murthy, Sector Head, said the Alliance places farmers at the core of climate action, aiming to co-create locally relevant, economically viable and scalable solutions that strengthen livelihoods while conserving natural resources.

Shri Shiv Kumar, Co-founder and Director, CMS, said the strength of the Alliance lies in its diverse partnerships, which will help reduce risks, accelerate learning, and ensure climate-smart solutions move beyond pilot stages to statewide adoption.

The outcomes of the workshop will inform the Alliance’s roadmap, flagship programmes and governance framework. The CSA Alliance reflects Odisha’s commitment to collaborative, science-based and farmer-centric climate action, positioning the state as a potential national leader in climate-resilient agriculture.

The workshop was attended by senior departmental officials, representatives from research institutions including CRRI, IIWM, CIWA and CIFA, agricultural scientists, private sector partners, civil society organisations, development agencies and policymakers. Additional Secretary Shri Shubhranshu Mishra delivered the vote of thanks.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda