(MENAFN- AsiaNet News)

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will be on a one-day visit to Odisha on November 10 (Monday). During this visit, he will participate in key programmes aimed at enhancing farmers' income, ensuring nutritional security, and promoting natural farming practices in the state, a release from the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Union Minister's Itinerary in Odisha

As per the schedule, Union Minister Chouhan will depart from Patna in the morning and reach Bhubaneswar by 11:00 a.m. Thereafter, he will attend the inaugural session of the 'Mandia Dibasa (Millet Day)' programme as the Chief Guest at the Convention Centre located in the Lok Seva Bhawan. On this occasion, he will highlight the Central Government's initiatives to encourage the production, processing, and consumption of millets (Shri Anna/coarse grains) across Odisha and the rest of the country. The event will also feature discussions on the promotion of millets as an instrument for augmenting farmers' income and strengthening the rural economy.

Following the inauguration, Union Minister Chouhan will visit the Sadar region of Cuttack district, where he will conduct field visits and hold direct interactions with farmers. He will listen to their experiences, learn about the challenges they face, and gather their suggestions regarding agricultural policies. During this engagement, he will assess the on-ground status of various agricultural programmes being implemented by the Central Government and review their impact at the grassroots level.

In the afternoon, the Union Agriculture Minister will participate in a joint strategic meeting at the ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Bidyadharpur, Cuttack. The meeting agenda includes detailed deliberations on strengthening the implementation of key national agricultural initiatives, such as the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission, and the National Mission on Natural Farming. Senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, scientists from ICAR, and representatives from the Odisha Government are expected to attend this discussion. The deliberation will aim to formulate actionable strategies for achieving higher productivity, sustainability, and self-reliance in Indian agriculture.

Advancing Sustainable and Farmer-Centric Policies

Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan's visit is being viewed as a significant step towards advancing sustainable and self-reliant agriculture in Odisha. Emphasising the importance of Indian farmers in national development, Chouhan has often stated that "India's future lies in the fields of its farmers, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to making farming profitable, environmentally friendly, and technology-driven."

Union Minister Chouhan has been consistently visiting various states to directly connect with farmers and review agricultural development on the ground. He maintains that policymaking and programme implementation cannot be effective if confined to offices in New Delhi. Instead, success in agriculture requires understanding field realities through direct interaction with cultivators. His ongoing outreach efforts reflect a participatory approach, ensuring that the government's agricultural reforms remain closely aligned with the aspirations and lived experiences of India's rural communities. Through farmer consultations and field inspections, Chouhan aims to identify region-specific challenges, including soil health, crop diversification, water efficiency, and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

The Union Minister's engagement also aims to promote awareness about government schemes that enable the adoption of modern agricultural technology, improved seed varieties, farm mechanisation, and value-added production. These interventions are expected to enhance rural livelihoods while contributing to the national goal of food and nutritional security.

Emphasis on Millets and Key National Missions

The 'Mandia Dibasa' celebration marks Odisha's continued leadership in millet promotion. With the Central Government's declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, Odisha has been a key partner in scaling up millet-based farming systems. The state's community-based initiatives in areas such as Koraput, Rayagada, and Kandhamal have yielded remarkable results in both productivity and nutritional outcomes. Union Minister Chouhan's participation in this symbolic event underscores the government's renewed focus on traditional crops that are climate-resilient, nutrient-rich, and economically beneficial.

By converging central schemes such as the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, which emphasises productivity enhancement; the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission, which seeks to reduce dependence on imports; and the National Mission on Natural Farming, which encourages chemical-free cultivation, the Central Government aims to strengthen the foundation of a sustainable agricultural economy. The upcoming joint strategy session at ICAR-CRRI is expected to result in recommendations for more integrated approaches, combining technology, training, credit access, and market linkages for farmers.

Union Minister Chouhan's visit reflects the government's commitment to strengthening rural development through coordination between the Centre, state governments, and research institutions. It highlights the vision of building a resilient agricultural system that responds to emerging challenges such as climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity.

Later in the evening, following the conclusion of all scheduled events, Chouhan will depart from Bhubaneswar for Vijayawada, where he is scheduled to participate in a series of programmes the following day. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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