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Sabyasachi Kundu
Bhubaneswar: The Krushi Odisha Mela, the flagship annual event organized by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha, kicked off today at the Biju Patnaik Ground, Bhubaneswar.
Celebrating agricultural successes and charting the way forward for the sector, this three-day event brings together prominent farmers, agri-ecosystem stakeholders, and dignitaries from both government and non-government sectors.
As part of the inaugural day’s activities, a session themed “Transforming Agriculture Through Digital Interventions” was conducted from 4:00 to 5:30 PM, exploring how digital technologies can revolutionise the sector and highlighting Odisha’s pioneering efforts in leveraging technology to revolutionize agriculture.
The session was chaired and opened by Shri Prem Chandra Chaudhary, IAS, Director of Agriculture & FP, Odisha, who emphasized the critical role of digital interventions in modernising agriculture.
Highlighting the Government of India’s focus on the Farmer Registry and Digital Crop Survey, he reinforced Odisha’s position as a leader in agricultural digitisation, setting the stage for a robust, future-ready system.
Following this, Anay Gogate, Program Lead (KONNECT & LEAP), Samagra, detailed how Odisha has established integrated agricultural data systems that seamlessly interact.
He explained the tech tools deployed to simplify farming operations, as well as vertical, tech-enabled initiatives like the Rice Fallow Management (RFM) scheme, positioning the state as a frontrunner in implementing the AgriStack vision.
Ravi Shankar, VP Agri, ONDC, shared insights on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), explaining its potential to transform the agri-ecosystem by enabling private players to deliver services to farmers through an open and interoperable network.
He highlighted the role ONDC can play in fostering innovation and collaboration across the agri-value chain.
Senthilkumar Natarajan, Head of Public Policy & Government Relations, NinjaCart, stressed the importance of an open data ecosystem for improving market linkages.
He outlined how standardized data and trust mechanisms can enable private players to optimize procurement by aggregating both supply and demand, creating a more efficient agricultural marketplace.
The use of advanced technology in agriculture was further elaborated by Kumarjit Mazumder, Director of Enterprise Solutions, SatSure.
He explained how space analytics can be leveraged for yield measurement, procurement optimisation, insurance claims, and enabling access to credit for farmers.
He also shared insights from SatSure’s work on AgriStack implementation in Uttar Pradesh.
The event concluded with a powerful on-ground perspective from Sushree Sangita Dash, a progressive farmer from Odisha.
She shared real-world examples of how digital initiatives have improved benefit delivery to farmers and recounted her interaction with Bill Gates during his visit to Odisha, further underscoring the state’s leadership in agricultural transformation.
Odisha’s commitment to integrating technology with agriculture not only sets a benchmark for other states but also aligns seamlessly with the Government of India’s vision for a digital agricultural ecosystem. With initiatives like these, the state continues to lead the way in empowering farmers and driving inclusive growth in the sector.
