Bhubaneswar, July 3: To strengthen Odisha's agricultural ecosystem, the Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Department on Friday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with four State public sector undertakings (PSUs) - Odisha Agro-Industrial Corporation (OAIC), Odisha Agriculture Promotion and Capital Investment Corporation Limited (APICOL), Odisha State Seed Corporation Limited (OSSC), and Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (OSCDCL).
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Minister KV Singh Deo for the financial year 2026-27.
Singh Deo urged the corporations to work in coordination with the department to drive the development of agriculture and farmers in the State.
The MoUs were executed by the Managing Directors of the respective corporations and representatives of the Agriculture Department. On this occasion, the Deputy CM also reviewed the achievements and future targets of these corporations.
According to the agreement, the OAIC has set a target to procure 54,000 tonnes of fertilizers, 8,400 tractors, 1,200 power tillers, and other agricultural equipment in the current year. Additionally, under the 'Jalanidhi' scheme, it aims to implement 6,240 electric-powered lift irrigation points and 1,200 shallow tubewell projects, alongside targeting the sale of horticulture materials worth approximately Rs 24 crore. The corporation aims for a total turnover of Rs 1,200 crore through all these programs.
Similarly, APICOL aims to establish 1,659 commercial enterprises with a targeted Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS) of Rs 330 Crore in FY 2026-27 and has provisioned Rs 300 Crore for the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) and Rs 30 Crore for Financial Assistance to Cold Storages.
To strengthen cashew cultivation during the financial year 2026-27, the Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (OSCDCL) will undertake a hybrid cashew replantation program across 500 hectares of land. Along with this, the third and fourth-year maintenance work of previously established cashew plantations covering 761.22 hectares will also be carried out. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo stated that the corporation must focus more on branding and marketing.
Likewise, the primary objective of the partnership with the Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC) is to further strengthen the seed production and supply framework in the state. Under this agreement, high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties will be introduced. In addition, joint training and capacity-building programs will be organized for Government officials and seed farmers.
