On the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai, an agriculture-based festival in Odisha, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment organised a state-level event at OUAT Bhubaneswar. The event aimed to disburse financial assistance under the CM Kisan scheme for Rabi 2025-26.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi released the third instalment of CM Kisan Assistance, transferring Rs 1,041 crore via DBT to 51.54 lakh small and marginal farmers, landless cultivator families, vulnerable tribal groups, and urban farmers across Odisha.
During the event, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a new ‘Krushak Bhavan’ and a ‘Reception Center’ at the Agriculture Education Complex, which were constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 59 crore. He further announced that an extension of the farmer registration period will be declared soon.
Addressing the gathering, CM Majhi stated that immediately after assuming office, the government prioritised farmers’ welfare. “In our very first Cabinet meeting, we approved the Samruddha Krushak Yojana as promised in our manifesto. Farmers were assured Rs 3,100 per quintal of paddy, and a record 92.63 lakh MT of paddy was procured,” he said.
“Today, more than 51 lakh small and marginal farmers, along with 39,239 landless cultivator families, have received the third installment of assistance worth Rs 1,041 crore under CM Kisan through DBT,” the CM added.
ଆଜି ରାଜ୍ୟର ୫୧ ଲକ୍ଷରୁ ଅଧିକ ଚାଷୀଙ୍କୁ ୧୦୪୧ କୋଟିରୁ ଅଧିକ ଟଙ୍କାର ସି.ଏମ୍ କିଷାନ୍ ଯୋଜନାର ତୃତୀୟ କିସ୍ତିର ଆର୍ଥିକ ସହାୟତା ଡ଼ିବିଟି ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ପ୍ରଦାନ କରାଗଲା । ଭାଦ୍ରବ ମାସରେ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଅବସରରେ, ନୂତନ ଶସ୍ୟ ଦେବାଦେବୀଙ୍କୁ ଲାଗି ହେବାପରେ ଆଶ୍ୱିନ ମାସରେ ଆମ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରାକ୍-ରବି କୃଷି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରାଯାଇଥାଏ । ଏଥିପାଇଁ… pic.twitter.com/thKFKYX5dt
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 27, 2025
He noted that a series of farmer-centric initiatives by the State Government have substantially enhanced rural incomes in Odisha. “Through just one step, the annual income of registered farmers has increased by at least Rs 38,000. When combined with Rs 10,000 from the Subhadra Yojana and Rs 10,000 each from PM-Kisan and CM-Kisan, the annual income of farmers has risen by at least Rs 58,000,” the CM stated, adding that most Subhadra beneficiaries belong to farming families.
He informed that more than 18 lakh farmers have already registered under the Samruddha Krushak Yojana this year. “I will personally ensure that no farmer is left out of the scheme because the progress of the State is impossible without the prosperity of our ‘Annadatas’,” the Chief Minister asserted.
Highlighting the government’s support, Majhi explained that small and marginal farmers receive Rs 2,000 per crop season (Rs 4,000 annually) to meet essential agricultural input costs. Landless farming households are supported with Rs 12,500 in three instalments for goat, poultry, and duck rearing, as well as mushroom and beekeeping activities.
The CM further emphasised the importance of crop protection and diversification to counter climate change impacts. He stated that schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and crop diversification initiatives are being strengthened. Odisha, a leading potato-producing state, has been taking steps toward self-reliance in tuber cultivation. Awareness drives across 3,115 clusters have brought over one lakh beneficiaries into potato farming. Last year, 1.60 lakh quintals of certified potato seeds were distributed across all districts—three times more than the previous year.
To reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise market prices, the State Cold Storage Assistance Scheme was launched in January 2025. The government aims to establish at least one cold storage facility at every sub-divisional level through public-private partnerships. “This will help farmers obtain better prices for their produce, reduce distress sales, and enhance rural incomes,” noted the Chief Minister.
Majhi also highlighted the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana, which provides young agri-entrepreneurs with subsidies of up to Rs 1 crore for creating agri-business infrastructure. In the fiscal year 2024-25, 1,406 projects received a total of Rs 188.34 crore in subsidies under the scheme, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Bardhan Singh Deo emphasised the Odisha Government’s strong commitment to developing and empowering the state’s agricultural sector. He stated that the CM-Kisan scheme is a progressive initiative aimed at bringing farmers to the forefront of society and strengthening their economic independence. “Including as many eligible farmers as possible in the scheme will significantly promote agricultural development and enhance farmer prosperity,” he stated.
During the event, Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Gokulananda Mallik, underscored the importance of allied agricultural activities such as livestock rearing, fishery, and horticulture in improving farmers’ livelihoods. He noted that small-scale poultry, duck, and goat units, along with mushroom, bee, and tasar cultivation, are already benefiting farmers at various levels through the CM-Kisan scheme. The state’s animal husbandry support programs, including the Mukhyamantri Kamdhenu Yojana, have brought joy to countless rural households.
The event was attended by prominent officials and dignitaries, including Bhubaneswar (Ekamra) MLA Babu Singh, Principal Secretary of the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department Suresh Kumar Basishtha, Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Dr. Prabhat Kumar Raul, and directors from the Horticulture, Soil Conservation, and Agricultural Empowerment Departments. Approximately 600 farmers and 200 OUAT students actively participated.
The program was live-streamed across all 30 districts of the state and was attended by various departmental ministers, Members of Parliament, local MLAs, district collectors, and senior officials from the Agriculture & Farmer Empowerment Department. The Chief Secretary of the Agriculture & Farmer Empowerment Department, Dr. Aravind Kumar Padhi, delivered the welcome address, while Shri Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture & Food Production, Odisha, extended the vote of thanks.
