Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to take center stage as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, organizes the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar on May 19, 2026.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo has reviewed preparations in a detailed manner. As a major agrarian state, Odisha will utilize this prominent platform to present its key agricultural extension initiatives to a national audience, highlighting the state’s progress in empowering local farmers.
Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Secretary of Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment for Odisha, confirmed that these localized innovations and extension models will be a major focus of the event.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will chair the high-level conference. The event will see participation from Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Shri K V Singh Deo, agriculture ministers from various states, senior officials, scientists, financial institutions, agricultural experts, and farmer representatives.
The primary objective is to drive the overall development of the agriculture sector, enhance farmers’ incomes, and strengthen coordination between the Centre and state governments.
The conference agenda includes a comprehensive review of central schemes alongside critical regional discussions. Dedicated sessions will focus on the progress of the farmer registry, expansion opportunities in the horticulture sector, the mission for self-reliance in pulses production, and the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds. Discussions will also cover the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan, the National Mission on Natural Farming, farm credit accessibility, and Kisan Credit Card issues.
Crucial regulatory and sustainability challenges will also be addressed. Delegates will engage in extensive deliberations on controlling fake pesticides, preventing the black marketing of fertilizers, promoting balanced fertilizer application, and encouraging the adoption of alternative fertilizers.
The regional meet will double as a knowledge-sharing platform with presentations from neighboring states on successful agrarian models. West Bengal will share its best practices in seed production, Jharkhand will present its experiences with Farmer Producer Organisation based value chains and its agricultural startup ecosystem, and Bihar will detail its successful strategies in maize production and marketing.
The Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference is expected to drive collaborative solutions for regional agricultural challenges and shape future strategies for sustainable farming. Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will address the media following the conclusion of the sessions.