Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government and Gates Foundation on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for promoting inclusive agriculture transformation in the state.
“The MoU marks a significant leap toward future-ready agriculture in Odisha. It reaffirms our Government’s commitment to invest in knowledge, innovation, and partnerships that benefit farmers across the state,” said Deputy CM & Agriculture Minister K V Singh Deo.
The MoU pertains to a multi-year collaboration focused on technical support, research, and on-ground implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices while enhancing the productivity of dairy and fisheries in Odisha.
“The newly launched alliance will serve as a catalyst that will bring together the best of innovation and farmer adoption at scale – placing Odisha at the forefront of sustainable agricultural growth,” said Director, Poverty Alleviation, Gates Foundation, Alkesh Wadhwani.
Alliance and Report Launch
Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department (FARDD) and the Gates Foundation also launched the Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance Odisha. It will serve as a collaborative platform bringing together government agencies, research institutions, start-ups, civil societies, NGOs, farmer institutions, and the private sectors to accelerate climate-smart technology and strategy adoption and innovation.
The event also marked the release of a Scoping Report Series on ‘Data-Driven Prioritisation of Districts for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Odisha’ by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). The report series presents a district-level assessment of climate risks, resource use patterns, and emissions from agriculture—providing a blueprint for developing district level climate action plans and piloting CSA practices tailored to local conditions.
Further, the Department also released Odisha Agriculture Statistics 2023-24, which is the mirror of agricultural activities in the state. Statistical information is a crucial input for policy planning.
