THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 20, 2026

Emphasising the evolving role of the farming community, Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Friday asserted that “today’s farmer is not just a farmer but an agri-entrepreneur,” as he inaugurated the OUAT Farmers’ Fair–2026 at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, underscoring the state’s shift towards smart, technology-driven agriculture and enterprise-led farming practices.

The fair, themed “Women Agri-Entrepreneur,” celebrated the growing participation of women in agriculture and highlighted innovative, sustainable practices transforming the sector.

Singh Deo lauded Odisha’s steady rise in agricultural production and credited farmers for driving this progress, noting that the transition from traditional to smart agriculture is opening new avenues of income and innovation.

Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulanand Mallick stressed the importance of empowering women through mixed farming models, while Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav described developed agriculture as the cornerstone of a developed India, pointing out that women constituted nearly 50 percent of the participants at the event.

OUAT Vice Chancellor Dr. Parvat Raul highlighted the university’s continued success in advancing research and extension activities, with key contributions from Dean Extension Professor Prasannajit Mishra and Professor Niranjan Panda. The fair featured over 15 stalls from various colleges, showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies and practices aimed at boosting productivity and entrepreneurship.

In a major highlight, women farmers were honoured for their achievements, while three farmer-centric publications — ‘Chasira Sansar’, ‘Compendium on Agricultural Technologies’, and ‘Cost of Cultivation of Important Crops’ — were released to disseminate knowledge and best practices. Several All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) of OUAT were also recognised with achievement awards for excellence across diverse agricultural fields.

The event reinforced Odisha’s commitment to fostering agri-entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive growth, positioning farmers — especially women — as key drivers of the state’s agricultural transformation.