Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS) on Friday hosted a policy roundtable in Bhubaneswar.
Highlighting Odisha’s journey toward sustainable development, the roundtable provided a platform for regional collaboration emphasizing opportunities for South-South knowledge exchange. Over 100 participants, including government officials, researchers, development practitioners, and international experts shared insights for addressing common challenges across diverse agricultural and environmental contexts.
Themed ‘Advancing Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Odisha’, the event underscored Odisha’s leadership in leveraging inclusive approaches to agricultural transformation and its potential as a model for similar countries and regions globally.
Addressing the roundtable, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo emphasized Odisha’s commitment to equitable agricultural growth. “Odisha is poised to lead the way in inclusive and sustainable agricultural reforms. The ideas and collaborations fostered today will shape a resilient agricultural future where every farmer can thrive. Market linkages are crucial for empowering smallholder farmers. Through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), we are ensuring that farmers gain better access to equitable markets, enabling them to secure fair prices and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
Principal Secretary of the department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee reiterated that, “Odisha’s agriculture sector stands at the forefront of innovation and inclusivity and sustainability. As we deliberate on strategies today, let us focus on scaling these successes and ensuring that every farmer benefits from our shared vision. Together, we can make Odisha a model state for sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth.”
The roundtable was structured around five critical themes – Inclusive Agricultural Transformation, Enhancing Market Access, Strengthening Climate Resilience, Empowering Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Advancing Data Integrity, addressing key areas for inclusive agricultural growth.
Dr. Shahidur Rashid, South Asia Director at IFPRI, said, “This roundtable underscores the potential of evidence-based strategies to address challenges and harness opportunities for inclusive agricultural growth in Odisha. The discussions today will set benchmarks for the region.”
Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Odisha noted, “Inclusive Agricultural Transformation is integral to Odisha’s vision of sustainable development. The insights and recommendations from this roundtable will pave the way for actionable outcomes.”
Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Director of Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment, Odisha, emphasized that, “Odisha’s agriculture system is aiming to transform to a resilient, equitable and market linked system and this policy roundtable will provide a platform for fostering collaboration and exchange of knowledge.”
Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Director Mission Shakti, highlighted “Mission Shakti has been a transformative force in promoting women’s empowerment. Women’s collectives are not only strengthening rural livelihoods but also driving agricultural growth, making them key agents of inclusive and sustainable development.”