Bhubaneswar, 03 July (H.S.): The Odisha Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment on Friday signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with four state-owned corporations for the financial year 2026-27 to strengthen agricultural development, promote farm mechanisation, enhance seed production, and boost agri-based entrepreneurship across the state.
The MoUs were signed with the Odisha Agro-Industries Corporation (OAIC), Odisha Agriculture Promotion and Capital Investment Corporation Limited (APICOL), Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited (OSSC), and Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (OSCDCL) in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the department Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, who also serves as Chairman of the four corporations.
Addressing the programme, Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo urged the corporations to work in close coordination with the Agriculture Department to accelerate the state's agricultural growth and improve the livelihoods of farmers. He also reviewed the achievements of the corporations during the previous financial year and outlined their targets for 2026-27.
Under the agreement, OAIC has set an ambitious target to procure 54,000 tonnes of fertilisers, supply 8,400 tractors, 1,200 power tillers, and other farm machinery during the current financial year. The corporation will also implement 6,240 electric lift irrigation points and 1,200 shallow tube well projects under the Jalanidhi scheme while targeting horticultural input sales worth nearly ₹24 crore. OAIC aims to achieve an overall business turnover of ₹1,200 crore, with the Deputy Chief Minister emphasising greater adoption of advanced technologies to improve service delivery.
APICOL has set a target of establishing 1,659 commercial agri-enterprises during FY 2026-27 with a proposed Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS) of ₹330 crore. Of this, ₹300 crore has been earmarked for the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY), while ₹30 crore has been allocated for financial assistance to cold storage infrastructure.
To strengthen cashew cultivation, OSCDCL will undertake hybrid cashew replantation across 500 hectares during the financial year. The corporation will also carry out third and fourth-year maintenance of existing plantations covering 761.22 hectares. Singh Deo directed the corporation to place greater emphasis on branding and marketing to enhance the value of Odisha's cashew products.
Meanwhile, the partnership with OSSC aims to further strengthen the state's seed production and distribution system. The corporation will focus on the production and supply of high-yielding, climate-resilient seed varieties while organising joint training and capacity-building programmes for government officials and seed growers. The Deputy Chief Minister also instructed the corporation to prioritise the promotion of short-duration crop varieties to improve agricultural productivity and climate resilience.
The Agriculture Department said the MoUs are aimed at enhancing institutional coordination, improving service delivery, promoting sustainable farming practices, and creating greater income opportunities for farmers, in line with the state's vision for modern and resilient agriculture.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
