Agriculture Policy

Agriculture Extension

The gap between scientific know-how and field level do-how has been widening in the recent years. This knowledge deficit needs to be overcome speedily to enhance farm productivity and profitability. It is well recognized that farmers are changing over the years, both as individuals, as well as their contact with the outside world and their information seeking habits. Today they require extension services unlike two decades ago. As the agricultural sector will be gradually segregating into two different segments- commercial and subsistence-the extension system will have to adopt a bimodal approach in its working. Extension machinery needs to be strengthened through retraining and retooling of existing extension personnel. The extension system has to undergo a change in its outlook. ‘Talking Type’, of extension will be replaced by ‘Doing Type’. Reaching the contact farmers and delivering the messages by ‘Doing Type’ of extension will be emphasized.

Agriculture Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs) are operating in all the thirty districts of the State. They are the knowledge centres for the farmers that provide information on inputs, farm practices and market intelligence. However, the functioning of ATMAs need to be improved substantially. ATMAs will be properly equipped, both in terms of training and manpower.

Agriculture graduates will be motivated to undertake Agricultural Consultancy Services. Such Agricultural Consultants will act as catalysts in bringing the desired changes in cropping system, introduction of new technologies, providing market information and other required support to enhance the income of farmers. These consultants will be trained in the Agriculture University and provided a package of technology that is locally acceptable.

• Presently, the extension work is being done by the institutions in the public domain. In the changed scenario, besides the public sector agencies, agri-clinics, farmers’ organizations, farmers’ field schools, cooperatives, Panchayati Raj Institutions, NGOs and para-technicians will be encouraged for extension activities.
• Emphasis will be laid on promoting farmers to farmers learning by setting up Farm Schools in the field of progressive farmers.
• One lead farmer for each Gram Panchayat will act as ‘Krushak Sathi’. The Krushak Sathi will be appropriately trained so that they serve as effective contact points for dissemination of Agriculture Technology to other farmers in the Gram Panchayat.
• Linkages between the Department and Research Institutions like OUAT, CRRI and CIFA etc. will be strengthened so as to facilitate a smooth transfer of technology to the farmers. The KVKs in the districts would be the Link Points on researchable issues in the farm sector.
• The technological dissemination and adoptions will be as per the bottom up planning by the farmer advisors and Block Technology Team (BTT) of experts reflected in the Block Action Plans (BAPs).
• Gram Krushak Manch (GKM) in every revenue village will be used as a tool to increase outreach to more number of farmers.
• Strategic Research Extension Plan (SREP) approach for identification of the farmers’ problems and farmers-scientist interactions (FSI) for development of appropriate technology solutions will be encouraged.
• Opening of ‘Information Kiosks’ by interest agri-entrepreneurs will be encouraged.
• Farm Information and Advisory Centre will be opened in all Blocks.
• The existing State Level Training Institute (IMAGE) and other Regional Level Training Institute (RITE) will be revamped with latest capacity building tools and technologies, infrastructure and skill human resources.
• Selected best farmers would be given cash award at Block, District and State level every year.
• The officers of the Department at each level will be professionally trained to upgrade their skills and technical knowledge in partnership with Institutes of repute.

Horticulture

Odisha is bestowed with variety of agro-climatic conditions favourable for the development of horticultural crops. Horticulture provides excellent opportunity to raise the income of farmers even in dry tracks. Since income derived from horticulture per hectare of land is generally higher than in cereals and pulses, the State will exploit the field potential for expanding the area under horticulture. The area under horticulture can be doubled with appropriate promotional policies and cropping patterns. Importance of dry land horticulture as a supplementary source of income to the farms will be promoted.

• Most of the horticulture crops being perishable, facilitates for storage, processing and marketing need to be organized carefully for ensuring remunerative returns for the farmers. This will require that such crops are grown on a sufficient scale instead of scattered cultivation by individual farmers. A cluster approach will therefore be adopted. This will make it possible to have adequate processing and marketing arrangements made on a viable scale.
• Horticulture crops are also ideally suited for contract farming. The Government will actively encourage private entrepreneurs and food processing companies to enter into marketing contracts with farmers growing horticulture crops.
• Absence of cold storage facility with sufficient capacity has constrained the development of Horticulture sector in the State. The State Government will promote cold storage facilities by providing subsidy and other incentives.
• Electricity tariff for Cold storages will be at special rates (Agro industrial consumers) instead of Industrial / Commercial rates.
• The production of quality planting materials and seeds on a sufficient scale is a major pre-condition to the promotion of horticulture crops in the State. In order to increase production of quality planting material at least one Model (big) Nursery will be set up in each district and one Small
• Nursery will be set up in each block. The horticulture farms of the State Government can be made available to private entrepreneurs on payment of suitable rent for setting up mega production centres which can produce planting materials in large number by using modern method of technology and bio-technology. Such mega production centres can also be set up in PPP mode. These centres can also take up training of farmers in the cultivation and post harvest management of horticulture crops.
• At present, National Horticulture Mission (NHM) covers 24 districts of the State. The State will launch State Horticulture Mission (SHM) for the remaining 6 districts. All the benefits available under NHM will be extended to the farmers of the 6 districts under State Horticulture Mission.
• The State will promote venture by private farms for setting up cold storages and processing facilities on a large scale in every district by providing subsidy up to 40% of the capital investment excluding the cost of land.
• In urban areas, home gardens and nurseries would be encouraged; Avenue plantations and greening the landscapes would be part of the developmental agenda of the urban local bodies.

Floriculture:

Odisha’s soil and climatic conditions are suitable for successful cultivation of flowers like rose, tuberose, marigold and gladiolus. Demand for flowers is also growing rapidly in the State. Though floriculture in the State is in infant stage, an increasing trend in cultivation of flowers is marked. Though there is a huge potential of floriculture in the state, farmers are reluctant to take up floriculture, mainly due to marketing problems. Information about prices and floriculture technology is also not readily available to small producers.

Growers Co-operative will be encouraged and wholesale markets exclusively for flowers will be developed. Contract farming of flowers will be encouraged with suitable forward linkage. Suitable financial incentive will be provided not only for cultivation of flowers but also for post harvest management including marketing.

Cashew nut:

One of the most important commercial crops grown in the State is cashew-nut. Odisha is the third largest producer of cashew-nut after Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Presently, the area under cashew-nut is 1,26,000 ha, with production of approx. 78,000 M.T. Though the average productivity in the State is higher than the national average, there is ample scope to further increase the productivity. Plantations over approx. 40% of the area are old, senile and uneconomic and variety is also traditional. A special programme will be launched for replacement of the old, senile and uneconomical plantations with clones of High Yield variety in a time bound manner. Cashew processing in the State will be given priority.

Coconut:

Odisha is 5th largest producer of coconut after four southern States. However, the productivity in the State is much below the national average. Main reason of low productivity is existence of large number of old and senile plants in the State. A definite, time –bound programme will be taken up for replacement of old & senile plants with new high yield variety plants.