Cuttack: On the occasion of Akshay Tritiya and State Level Farmers Day, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi announced several major initiatives for the farming community during a grand event held at the Central Rice Research Institute in Cuttack. Highlighting the government’s commitment to making agriculture modern and profitable, the Chief Minister disbursed financial assistance worth 838.48 crore rupees to over 41.68 lakh farmers under the CM-Kisan scheme via Direct Benefit Transfer.
Before the formal program, the Chief Minister performed Bhumi Pujan and conducted the traditional Akhi Muthi ritual in the fields near the research center. He also inaugurated the Seeds on Wheels program, known as Ama Bihana Ratha, designed to provide high-quality seeds directly to farmers. In its first phase, these mobile seed centers will operate across 31 blocks in 10 districts, offering 5kg packets of new rice varieties at the gram panchayat level.
In his address, the Chief Minister emphasized that agriculture is the backbone of Odisha’s economy and culture. He noted that the state has achieved a record food grain production of over 150 lakh metric tons this year, with an agricultural growth rate of 5.3 percent, surpassing the national average. To ensure fair returns for farmers, the state government is purchasing paddy at 3100 rupees per quintal. He also mentioned that under the Krushi Vidyanidhi scholarship, over 68,000 students from farming families received financial aid for professional education.
The Chief Minister spoke about the integration of central and state efforts, citing the double engine growth model. He expressed gratitude toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi for including tribal districts like Kandhamal and Malkangiri in national agricultural schemes. He further highlighted the Balabhadra Organic Farming Mission and the Shree Anna Abhiyan aimed at promoting millets globally.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, also present at the event, advised farmers to remain vigilant while purchasing fertilizers. He urged them to buy only from authorized dealers using Aadhaar and OTP verification and to always demand a POS machine slip to ensure transparency.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Members of Parliament Bhartruhari Mahtab and Bibhu Prasad Tarai, along with local MLAs and senior government officials. The program concluded with a shared vision of transforming Odisha into a prosperous state by empowering its farmers with technology, better market linkages, and robust infrastructure like cold storage facilities.