ICC National e-Summit on AGRICULTURE

Agriculture sector in Odisha has an impeccable track record of meeting the challenges of serious food shortages despite rapid growth of population. This can be construed to have been achieved through a favourable interplay of infrastructure, technology, extension, policy support with strong and meaningful political will.

Agricultural growth in Odisha has been steady in recent years and the state's agricultural growth rate has been hovering around the national average due to proper planning, good disaster management and a stable Government.

About 60% population of the state draws its sustenance fully or partially from the Agriculture Sector. This sector suffers from frequent natural calamities like cyclones, drought and flash floods and even animal menace in addition to the localized adverse weather events. Despite wide annual variations in it's growth, the agriculture sector grew robustly in real terms during the last decade.

The "State's subsequent Agriculture Policies have given the Department of Agriculture a shot in the arm to go for all round development of agrarian sector with specific focus on increasing the production & productivity of different crops despite the aberrant weather conditions and limited resources.

A large part of Odisha is mono-cropped with rice so it is imperative to reduce the dependence of farmers on a single crop, as the recurring climatic anomalies make agriculture production in the State doubly risky. A second crop of oilseeds, pulses, vegetables and fodder crops can be raised through by greater use of ground water resources including through the deployment of solar pumps.

With the Government's consistent efforts in the promotion and development of the sector as well as the untapped potential the industry offers, the agro sector of Odisha is poised to make significant strides and reach its pinnacle in the years to come.

With a view to discuss various key issues & challenges in the agro sector, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in association with Department Of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment, Government of Odisha organizing a "National e-Summit on AGRICULTURE-Combating the Pandemic" at 11am on 12th August 2021 via ICC Virtual Platform.