Odisha Deputy CM Singh Deo pledges govt support for farmers at OUAT's 65th Foundation Day
Synopsis
At OUAT's 65th Foundation Day in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo assured farmers of adequate fertiliser stocks and reaffirmed government support through active schemes — while 33 women agri-entrepreneurs were honoured and new campus infrastructure was inaugurated, signalling a broader push to modernise agricultural education in the state.
Key Takeaways
Odisha Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo reaffirmed the state government's commitment to farmers on 24 August at OUAT's 65th Foundation Day in Bhubaneswar .
Singh Deo assured farmers that adequate fertiliser stocks have been secured and urged them not to panic over availability.
Minister Gokulananda Mallik called for doubling farmers' income and encouraged youth to enter agriculture and allied sectors.
37 publications by OUAT were released; the university's MIS and digital initiatives were also launched.
New infrastructure including Bidyarthi Bhawan , Bhuvaneswari Girls' Hostel , and the Veterinary Campus was inaugurated virtually.
33 women agricultural entrepreneurs were felicitated for their contributions to Odisha's agriculture sector.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Monday, 24 August reaffirmed the state government's commitment to addressing farmers' needs through active policy implementation, speaking at the 65th Foundation Day celebration of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) at Krushi Shiksha Sadan on the university campus in Bhubaneswar. Singh Deo, who also holds the portfolios of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment and serves as Pro-Chancellor of OUAT, used the occasion to outline the government's ongoing agricultural priorities.
Key Remarks by the Deputy CM
'The government is committed to fulfilling the dreams of farmers. Various schemes currently being implemented across sectors to meet the needs of the farmers will help in fulfilling their dreams,' Singh Deo said at the event. He also sought to reassure the farming community on a pressing concern, advising farmers not to panic over fertiliser availability and stating that adequate fertiliser stocks have been secured to meet current requirements.
What Other Ministers Said
Fisheries, Animal Resources Development and MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallik underscored the centrality of agriculture to the state's development vision. He called on all stakeholders to work toward doubling farmers' income and urged young people to take up agriculture and allied activities. 'Farmers are the architects in achieving the goal of a Viksit or prosperous Odisha. Therefore, the steps being taken by OUAT in this regard will be helpful to the farmers in the coming days,' Mallik said.
Launches, Inaugurations and Felicitations
The foundation day saw a series of institutional milestones. A total of 37 publications brought out by OUAT were released, alongside the launch of the university's MIS and digital initiatives. New infrastructure — including Bidyarthi Bhawan, Udyamita Bhawan, Bhuvaneswari Girls' Hostel, and the Veterinary Campus — was inaugurated virtually. Additionally, 33 women agricultural entrepreneurs were felicitated for their contributions to the sector, and awards were presented to individuals and institutions for excellence across various fields.
Agricultural Exhibition and Fair
An exhibition and fair showcasing agricultural and allied products produced by farmers from different districts of Odisha was organised as part of the foundation day celebrations, providing a platform for farmers to display their produce and innovations. This comes amid the state's broader push to position agriculture as the backbone of Odisha's economic growth strategy under the Viksit Odisha framework.
What This Signals
The event reflects the Odisha government's intent to align agricultural education and institutional development with ground-level farmer welfare. With fertiliser supply assurances, digital upgrades at OUAT, and a focus on women entrepreneurship in farming, the administration appears to be broadening its agricultural support beyond traditional subsidy frameworks. How effectively these initiatives translate into measurable income gains for farmers will be the key test in the months ahead.
Point of View
And this one follows the familiar pattern — reassuring language, scheme references, and institutional launches. What stands out, however, is the specific fertiliser supply assurance, which suggests ground-level anxiety among farmers that the government felt compelled to address publicly. The felicitation of 33 women agri-entrepreneurs is a meaningful signal, but the broader question remains: whether Odisha's agricultural institutions like OUAT are being resourced to drive measurable income growth or merely to stage milestone events. The Viksit Odisha framing is politically useful, but it needs verifiable targets to carry weight beyond the podium.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Odisha Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo say about farmers at OUAT's Foundation Day?
Singh Deo reaffirmed the state government's commitment to fulfilling farmers' dreams through active implementation of various schemes. He also assured farmers that adequate fertiliser stocks are in place and urged them not to panic over availability.
What is OUAT and why was its 65th Foundation Day significant?
The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) is the state's premier agricultural university, based in Bhubaneswar. Its 65th Foundation Day on 24 August saw 37 publications released, new digital initiatives launched, and major infrastructure inaugurated, marking a push to modernise agricultural education in Odisha.
Who are the 33 women agricultural entrepreneurs felicitated at the event?
Thirty-three women agricultural entrepreneurs from across Odisha were honoured at OUAT's Foundation Day for their contributions to the agriculture sector. The felicitation is part of the state's broader effort to encourage women's participation in farming and allied activities.
What new infrastructure was inaugurated at OUAT on Foundation Day?
New facilities including Bidyarthi Bhawan, Udyamita Bhawan, Bhuvaneswari Girls' Hostel, and the Veterinary Campus were inaugurated virtually during the 65th Foundation Day celebrations at OUAT's Bhubaneswar campus.
What did Minister Gokulananda Mallik say about farmers and Odisha's development?
Mallik stated that farmers are the architects of a prosperous Odisha and called on all stakeholders to work toward doubling farmers' income. He specifically urged youth to take up agriculture and allied activities as a path to building a Viksit Odisha.
