A roundtable on agrarian issues in the context of doubling farmers’ income was orgnaised by NGO Agragamee here on September 26 and 27.
Agriculture scientists, policy makers, Government officials, agriculture experts, educationists, MS Swaminathan Foundation, NCDS, DDS, Hyderabad and mediapersons participated and discussed on current agrarian issues.
Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment Principal Secretary Sourav Garg said since last 10 years, the agriculture development has been quite encouraging in Odisha. The Government has taken several measures for the development of farmers and also for enhancing oil seeds, and other vegetable crops. He also shared that the Government has taken special provisions for development organic farming policy and Millets Mission in the State. Water Resources Principal Secretary Pradeep K Jena shared that the farmers need to change crop pattern as per the present demand of marketability.
Prof Radhamohan cited Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka’s natural farming and opined that the model can be replicated in Odisha.
State Food Commission Chairman Rangalal Jamuda shared that there is a need to focus on both food security and nutrition value among the farmers and the tribal communities.
During the two- day brainstorming meeting, discussion centered on ecological agriculture versus chemical agriculture, agrarian crisis on account of unsustainable use of land, water, forests and livestock and enhancing farmers’ income.
In the inaugural day, former Member, Board of Revenue Aurobindo Behera and former Vice-Chancellor, OUAT Prof DP Ray and in the second day Chairperson, Odisha State Food Commission Jamuda and eminent environmentalist Prof Radhamohan participated in the discussion.
Joint director, Agragamee Vidya Das spoke on the issues of tribals and tribals children and their distressed situation.
Among others, director, Agragamee Achyut Das, writer and former Horticulutre Director Dr Surya Narayan Behera and Dr Nagendra Mallick also spoke.