New Delhi, May 18 (H.S.):The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is set to organise the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar on May 19. The important conference will be chaired by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The conference will witness participation from Mohan Charan Majhi, along with agriculture ministers from various states, senior government officials, scientists, farmer representatives, agricultural experts, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, banks, and other stakeholders.

According to a statement issued by the ministry on Monday, the primary objective of the conference is to ensure the holistic development of the agriculture sector, enhance farmers’ income, and establish better coordination between the Central and state governments. The progress of various schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will also be reviewed during the event.

The conference will include detailed discussions on several key issues, including the progress of the farmer registry initiative, opportunities in the horticulture sector, the mission for self-reliance in pulses production, the National Mission on Edible Oils and Oilseeds, PM-AASHA, the National Mission on Natural Farming, farm credit, and the Kisan Credit Card scheme.

In addition, deliberations will also be held on important issues such as curbing counterfeit pesticides and fertilisers, preventing black marketing of fertilisers, promoting balanced fertiliser usage, and encouraging the adoption of alternative fertilisers. The ministry believes that coordination and exchange of experiences among states on these issues will provide a new direction to the agricultural sector.

The conference will also feature presentations on successful innovations and agricultural models adopted by different states. Odisha will share its achievements in agricultural extension activities, while West Bengal will present advanced methods of seed production. Jharkhand will showcase its experiences related to FPO-based value chains and the agricultural startup ecosystem, whereas Bihar will present successful models for maize production and marketing.

According to the ministry, the conference is expected to emerge as an important platform for addressing challenges in the agricultural sector, exchanging innovations, and formulating future strategies for sustainable agricultural development in the interest of farmers.

Following the conference, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will also address the media.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar