Odisha farmers and ifficials embark on 7-day exposure visit to Malaysia

Bhubaneswar: A 28-member team comprising 14 farmers and 14 officials from Odisha is set to undergo a 7-day agricultural exposure visit to Malaysia.

The visit, organized under the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA) project, was flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.

Singh Deo highlighted Odisha’s prominent position in fruit and vegetable exports, with the state striding high in the sector.

He also mentioned that Odisha ranks fourth in supplying rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The Deputy Chief Minister encouraged the team to learn about scientific methods and machinery usage in traditional agriculture, emphasizing the importance of recording daily reports and implementing best practices to double farmers’ income.

Principal Secretary, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, highlighted Odisha’s agricultural development, including the record production of 14.3 million tonnes of food grains and 14.48 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables during last year.

He also mentioned the state’s successful export of various produce to countries in Middle East and Europe.

The team is expected to gain knowledge and skills during the visit, which will enable them to contribute to Odisha’s agricultural growth and development. The visit is jointly organized by the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, Odisha; Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow; and NABARD.

Director Horticulture Nikhil Pavan Kalyan; Agriculture Director Shubham Saxena and PD OIIPCRA Rashmi Ranjan Nayak were present.