Tuesday, 17 June 2025
The Odisha Government and the Gates Foundation have signed an MoU to collaborate on inclusive agriculture and boost productivity in the dairy and fisheries sectors
The Odisha Government has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to boost agricultural transformation in the state, focusing on inclusive growth and resilience. The agreement, led by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment along with the Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, aims to promote climate-smart agriculture (CSA), enhance productivity in dairy and fisheries, and provide technical support and research-based solutions.
“This MoU marks a significant step toward future-ready agriculture,” said Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister KV Singh Deo. “It reflects our commitment to investing in innovation, knowledge, and partnerships that benefit our farmers.”
Alkesh Wadhwani, Director of Poverty Alleviation at the Gates Foundation, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the foundation’s continued collaboration with Odisha to build a resilient and inclusive agricultural future.
As part of the initiative, a Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance was launched to foster collaboration among government bodies, research institutions, startups, NGOs, and the private sector. The alliance will focus on accelerating the adoption of climate-resilient technologies and strategies across the agricultural landscape.
Alongside the signing of a landmark MoU between the Odisha Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the event also featured the release of critical research reports aimed at guiding evidence-based agricultural transformation in the state.
The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) unveiled a scoping report series titled “Data-driven Prioritisation of Districts for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Odisha.” These reports provide district-level assessments of climate risk, agricultural emissions, and resource use, offering a strategic framework for developing tailored climate action plans.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) also released a report titled “Transforming Fallow Lands – An Impact Evaluation of the Comprehensive Rice Fallow Management Programme in Odisha (CRFM).” The study highlighted significant improvements in land use and productivity through the conversion of fallow lands for pulse and oilseed cultivation, underlining the value of integrated data in driving inclusive agricultural policies.
In addition, the state’s Agriculture Statistics 2023-24 was officially released, reflecting Odisha’s agricultural performance and trends over the past year
