Odisha govt, Gates foundation sign MoU to promote science-smart agriculture

Bhubaneswar, April 29: Odisha government and the Gates Foundation on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on areas that will drive growth, such as AI-enabled use cases, precision agriculture, climate-smart innovations, and enhancing the productivity of dairy and fisheries.

The MoU sets the stage for a multi-year collaboration focused on technical support, research, and on-ground implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices in Odisha.

This strategic partnership, anchored by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment (DAFE) and the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department (FARDD), will drive science-based, ground-level interventions to promote Climate Smart Agriculture.

Deputy Chief Minister, K.V. Singh Deo, emphasised that the signing of MoU with the Gates Foundation marks a significant leap toward future-ready agriculture in Odisha.

"It reaffirms our government's commitment to invest in knowledge, innovation, and partnerships that benefit farmers across the state," said Singh.

Alkesh Wadhwani, Director, Poverty Alleviation, Gates Foundation, said that the newly launched alliance will serve as a catalyst that will bring together the best of innovation and farmer adoption at scale, placing Odisha at the forefront of sustainable agricultural growth. The state government agencies - DAFE, (FARDD) and the Gates Foundation also launched the Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance Odisha.

It will serve as a collaborative platform bringing together government agencies, research institutions, start-ups, civil societies, NGOs, farmer institutions, and the private sectors to accelerate climate-smart technology and strategy adoption and innovation.

The event marked the release of a Scoping Report Series on "Data-Driven Prioritisation of Districts for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Odisha" by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP).

The report series presents a district-level assessment of climate risks, resource use patterns, and emissions from agriculture, providing a blueprint for developing District-Level Climate Action Plans and piloting CSA practices tailored to local conditions.

Besides, a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) titled 'Transforming Fallow Lands - An Impact Evaluation of the Comprehensive Rice Fallow Management Program in Odisha (CRFM)' was released.

The IFPRI report evaluates the impact of the Comprehensive Rice Fallow Management (CRFM) Program in Odisha, focusing on the conversion of fallow lands and its effects on acreage and yields of pulses and oilseeds.

The study provides strong evidence of increased land utilisation and productivity, demonstrating how integrated data systems can effectively guide inclusive, data-driven agricultural planning and policy.

Further, the Department released Odisha Agriculture Statistics 2023-24, which is a mirror of agricultural activities in the state. Statistical information is a crucial input for policy planning.

Reader Comments

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Priya M.

This is such a promising initiative! Climate-smart agriculture is exactly what we need to future-proof our farming communities. Hope they implement it well across all districts. 👏

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Rahul K.

As someone from Odisha's farming community, I'm cautiously optimistic. The Gates Foundation involvement gives me hope, but I've seen too many programs fail at implementation. Will this actually reach small farmers?

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Anjali P.

Love seeing data-driven approaches to agriculture! The district-level assessments sound particularly useful. More states should adopt this model. #SustainableFarming

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Sanjay D.

While I appreciate the initiative, I hope they don't overlook traditional farming knowledge in pursuit of high-tech solutions. The best approach would combine both modern science and indigenous wisdom.

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Meera R.

The fallow land management program sounds interesting! Converting unused land to productive use could be a game-changer for food security. Wonder if this could work in other states too?

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Kunal S.

Excited about the AI applications in agriculture mentioned here! Hope they make the technology accessible to farmers without requiring expensive equipment. The digital divide is real in rural areas.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.