THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
MAY 18, 2026
The Eastern Regional
Agriculture Conference, an important initiative of Union Agriculture and
Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will be held in Bhubaneswar on
May 19 with a strong focus on agricultural development, farmers’ welfare and
strengthening Centre-state coordination in the farm sector. Odisha Chief
Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will also participate in the high-level conference
alongside agriculture ministers from several states, senior government
officials, scientists, farmer representatives, agricultural experts, Farmer
Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, banks and other stakeholders.
Organised by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, the
conference is expected to emerge as a major platform for policy dialogue,
exchange of innovations and formulation of future strategies aimed at ensuring
sustainable agricultural growth in the eastern region of the country.
The deliberations
will centre on enhancing farmers’ incomes, reviewing the implementation of key
central schemes and addressing emerging challenges in the agriculture sector.
Detailed discussions will be held on the progress of various programmes being
implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, with special
emphasis on improving institutional coordination and accelerating
grassroots-level impact.
A major highlight of
the conference will be extensive discussions on the farmer registry,
opportunities in the horticulture sector, the mission for self-reliance in
pulses production, the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS),
PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan), the National Mission
on Natural Farming (NMNF), farm credit expansion and issues related to the
Kisan Credit Card scheme.
The conference will
also deliberate on pressing concerns affecting the farming community, including
the need to curb fake pesticides and fertilisers, prevent black marketing of
fertilisers, promote balanced fertiliser usage and encourage the adoption of
alternative fertilisers to support sustainable agriculture practices.
Adding further depth to the deliberations, participating states will present successful initiatives and innovations undertaken in the agriculture sector. Odisha will showcase its agricultural extension initiatives, while West Bengal will present best practices in seed production. Jharkhand will share its experiences in developing FPO-based value chains and strengthening the agricultural startup ecosystem, whereas Bihar will highlight successful models in maize production and marketing.
The conference is expected to play a significant role in identifying practical solutions to challenges confronting the agriculture sector and fostering collaborative efforts for long-term rural prosperity. Following the conference, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to address the media.
