Bhubaneswar, Jul 10: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday congratulated Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment as the State bagged the “Best State in Agriculture” award at the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave in New Delhi.

Taking to X, the CM wrote: " Congratulations to the @krushibibhag on being honoured as the “Best State in Agriculture” at the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave by Agriculture Today Group."

"This remarkable achievement reflects Odisha’s steadfast commitment to agricultural innovation, farmer-centric policies, and inclusive development. Special appreciation to the Department for its tireless efforts in reshaping the agricultural sector and uplifting the farming community. Odisha continues to lead by example in agriculture and rural development," the CM said.

On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, was honoured with the award at the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave by Agriculture Today Group in New Delhi.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal; Former Chief Justice of India and Chairman of the Award Committee, Justice P. Sathasivam; Union Minister of State for Skill Development and HRD, Jayanta Choudhury; and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were also present at the award ceremony.

The Deputy CM took to his X account and said: "Honoured to receive the “Best State in Agriculture” award at the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave, hosted by Agriculture Today Group. This recognition celebrates Odisha’s steadfast commitment to agricultural innovation, farmer empowerment, and inclusive growth.

It was a privilege to share the dais with Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal ji, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Nayab Singh Saini ji, and other esteemed dignitaries whose leadership continues to shape India’s agricultural vision. Their presence added great significance to this moment of pride for Odisha and its resilient farming community.

This award is dedicated to every farmer whose unwavering spirit fuels our pursuit of self-reliance and sustainable progress."

In the 2024–25 fiscal year, agriculture and its allied sectors accounted for approximately 19% of Odisha's Gross State Value Added (GSVA) — reflecting a growth rate of 3.3%, which outpaced the national average for five consecutive years.

Notably, agriculture continues to be the state’s largest employment source, engaging nearly 49% of Odisha’s total workforce, underscoring its critical role in sustaining rural livelihoods and driving regional development.

Odisha’s agricultural advancement stems from the state government’s visionary economic strategies, robust policy backing, and significant investments in rural infrastructure. Initiatives such as crop diversification and the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices have helped position Odisha as a national leader in the sector.

In the 2023–24 agricultural year, Odisha recorded a rice production of 115.39 lakh metric tonnes, equivalent to 174.83 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. With this achievement, the state proudly stands as the fourth largest rice supplier to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), reinforcing its vital role in ensuring national food security.

Last year, Odisha had the largest sale of tractors in India. The state’s farm power input reached 2.60 kw per hectare in 2024-25. It is targeted to reach 3.5 kw per hectare by 2036.

In a boost to its agri-export profile, Odisha shipped 121.82 metric tonnes of horticultural produce—including dragon fruit, cashew nuts, mangoes, and a variety of fresh vegetables—to international markets. These consignments were exported via the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, reaching destinations across the Middle East and Europe, such as- UAE, Qatar, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Poland and Germany.