Bhubaneswar, May 19: Bhubaneswar witnessed a landmark event on Tuesday, as the Zonal (Eastern) Agricultural Conference 2026 brought together policymakers, ministers, and experts to chart a comprehensive roadmap for agricultural development across five eastern states — Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, and agriculture ministers from four states participated in the conference, which focused on farmer welfare, sustainable practices, and soil health.

Union Minister Chauhan praised Odisha’s achievements in agricultural growth, particularly its record-breaking paddy procurement this year.

He emphasized that farmers are the true “annadata” (providers of food) and likened them to “second gods on earth.”

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Highlighting the fertile land, abundant water resources, and favourable climate of eastern India, he asserted that these factors would fuel future agricultural prosperity.

Chauhan urged farmers to adopt natural farming on at least 20% of their land to reduce chemical fertilizer usage, preserve soil fertility, and ensure healthier crops. He also announced plans for a new Pesticide Act to curb counterfeit fertilizers and pesticides.

CM Majhi echoed the call for natural farming, warning against the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that degrade soil quality. He proudly noted that Odisha’s organic rice is now used in the preparation of Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasad, a matter of cultural pride.

The Odisha CM also announced initiatives to revive traditional “Forgotten Foods” at the block level, ensuring biodiversity and nutritional security.

He highlighted several flagship schemes, including the Samruddha Krushak Yojana, under which farmers receive ₹3100 per quintal for paddy procurement, benefiting nearly 19 lakh farmers.

Additionally, through the CM Krushak Yojana and PM-Kisan, over 51 lakh farmers now receive annual financial support of ₹10,000. He also mentioned scholarships under the Krushi Vidyanidhi Yojana and full premium coverage under the crop insurance scheme.

Odisha government has also prioritized infrastructure, with cold storage facilities planned across all 58 subdivisions and subsidies up to ₹1 crore under the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana to encourage agri-investments. Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have already achieved transactions worth ₹126 crore in the past two years.

CM Majhi further announced the expansion of coffee plantations across one lakh acres in six districts, including Koraput and Kalahandi, with branding efforts to boost global demand for Odisha’s specialty coffee.

The conference underscored that eastern India’s agricultural productivity lags behind other regions, but with collaborative efforts and shared best practices, the five states can achieve self-reliance in agriculture.