Bhubaneswar, 06/01/2025: The Krushi Odisha Mela, an annual flagship event organized by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha, showcased the state’s agricultural achievements and explored the future of farming. Held at Biju Patnaik Ground in Bhubaneswar, this three-day event brought together farmers, government officials, agri-tech partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate successes in agriculture and discuss innovative solutions for sustainable farming.
A key session titled “Transforming Agriculture Through Digital Interventions” highlighted how technology is revolutionizing farming practices in Odisha and positioned the state as a leader in agricultural digitization. The session was chaired and inaugurated by Shri Prem Chandra Chaudhary, IAS, Director of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, who emphasized the critical role of digital tools in improving crop management, productivity, and market access for farmers. He cited initiatives such as the Farmer Registry and the Digital Crop Survey as examples of Odisha’s commitment to building a future-ready agricultural ecosystem.
Anay Gogate, Program Lead for KONNECT & LEAP at Samagra, elaborated on the state’s advanced systems for managing agricultural data. He demonstrated how digital tools are simplifying farming operations and discussed initiatives such as the Rice Fallow Management (RFM) scheme, which exemplifies Odisha’s proactive approach to leveraging technology to optimize agricultural outcomes.
The session also featured insights from industry and technology experts. Ravi Shankar from the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) explained how connecting farmers with private companies through shared digital platforms can stimulate innovation and collaboration in agriculture. Senthilkumar Natarajan from NinjaCart highlighted the importance of open and standardized data to improve market linkages, enabling better price discovery and smoother transactions for farm produce.
Further demonstrating the intersection of technology and agriculture, Kumarjit Mazumder from SatSure discussed how space-based technologies can assist farmers in measuring crop yields, optimizing procurement, processing insurance claims, and accessing credit. He shared valuable insights from SatSure’s work implementing AgriStack in Uttar Pradesh, illustrating the potential for scalable, data-driven agricultural solutions.
The session concluded with Sushree Sangita Dash, a progressive farmer from Odisha, who shared her firsthand experience of how digital interventions have enhanced services for farmers. She also recounted her interactions with global leaders, including Bill Gates, highlighting Odisha’s leadership in driving agricultural transformation through innovation and technology.
Overall, the Krushi Odisha Mela reinforced Odisha’s commitment to modernizing agriculture through digital solutions, fostering collaboration between farmers, government agencies, and private partners, and creating a future-ready ecosystem that empowers farmers while ensuring sustainable growth in the sector.
