Odisha's transformation in agriculture and food security
In the past two decades, Odisha has moved from importing rice from other States and producing 13.606 million tonnes of food grains, its highest production on record.
There are two notable aspects:
A majority of farmers are small/marginal, and productivity has increased despite stable crop area.
The average rice yield, which is Odisha’s main crop, has tripled in two decades.
In 2000-01 yield was 10.41 quintals per hectare, but by 2020-21, it had increased to 27.30 quintals per hectare.
Kalahandi district was known as the “land of hunger,” but has now been transformed into Odisha’s rice bowl.
Odisha Chief Minister shared this at the United Nations World Food Programme headquarters, where he addressed Odisha’s commitment towards achieving the ‘Zero Hunger’ goal of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2.
The focus is on small and marginal farmers and increasing their income.
This has directly contributed to strengthening their food security and creating resilient livelihoods.
Implementing flagship schemes such as Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) and disseminating scientific crop management practices.
Schemes such as the Odisha Millet Mission have also helped diversify crops and promote climate resilience.
Its achievements and potential to serve as a model
The consistent improvement of the agricultural sector has made Odisha a surplus State for paddy production.
It is the fourth most significant contributor to the paddy pool of the Food Corporation of India.
According to the available statistics for 2020-21, Odisha produces 9% of the total rice in India and accounts for 4.22% of the total food-grain production of the country.
The partnership between the United Nations World Food Programme and the Government of Odisha has seen innovation for pilots on improving food and nutrition security schemes.
The application of biometric technology in the Targeted Public Distribution System in remote Rayagada district back in 2007, or rice fortification in Gajapati district, to name a few.
In the State Ranking Index for the National Food Security Act by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Odisha emerged as the top-ranked State in the entire country.
Odisha’s transformative journey, from food grains scarcity to the generation of surplus, sustained efforts in climate-proofing its agricultural system, crop diversification, protection of the interest of the smallholders, and food and nutrition security for the vulnerable presents a unique development model for other States in the context of the challenges of global climate change.
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