Odisha Government Launches Fresh Drive to Revive Sugarcane Cultivation Across State
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated a renewed effort to revive and expand sugarcane cultivation across the state, focusing on higher productivity, stronger sugar mills, and improved returns for farmers.
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo reviewed the sector’s progress and future roadmap during a high-level meeting held in Bhubaneswar.
The review assessed the present status of sugarcane cultivation, including acreage, production levels, crop yields, and the economic viability of the crop for farmers.
Officials also examined the operational capacity of sugar mills and ongoing initiatives under the Technology Mission on Sugarcane Development (TMSD) and the Cooperation Department.
Discussions focused on ensuring the availability of quality seed cane, promoting modern agricultural practices, expanding irrigation infrastructure, increasing mechanization, and strengthening market linkages between farmers and sugar mills.
These measures are expected to enhance productivity while making sugarcane cultivation more profitable.
The meeting further reviewed demands raised by the Odisha Sugarcane Farmers’ Association, which has sought additional financial incentives and better remunerative returns to encourage more farmers to take up sugarcane cultivation.
Emphasizing the need for coordinated action, Singh Deo called for stronger collaboration between the Agriculture and Cooperation departments, industry stakeholders, and farmer groups to ensure that sugarcane farming becomes economically viable and sustainable.
The government aims to strengthen the crop’s contribution to Odisha’s agricultural economy while creating new growth opportunities for rural communities.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Cooperation Commissioner-cum-Secretary Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Director of Agriculture and Food Production Poma Tudu, and Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Subrat Kumar Panda.
