Bhubaneswar: In a major push towards climate-smart and profitable agriculture, the Odisha Government has approved an ambitious ₹1,523.98 crore Crop Diversification Mission during the 29th State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The initiative, proposed by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, will be implemented over the next three years to transform the state’s farming landscape and increase farmers’ income.
The mission seeks to gradually move farmers away from traditional paddy cultivation toward high-value and diverse crops, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices and efficient use of natural resources.
The roots of the initiative go back to Kharif 2021, when the state introduced the Crop Diversification Programme under Mega Lift Irrigation Projects. Initially implemented on a pilot basis, it focused on converting upland and medium-land paddy areas to non-paddy crops. Encouraged by positive results, the programme was scaled up in 2022–23 with the inclusion of indigenous aromatic rice promotion and comprehensive rice fallow management components.
The extended mission aims to restore soil vitality, enhance populations of beneficial micro-organisms, and protect the chemical and biological integrity of farmlands. Through diversified cropping, the government hopes to improve water use efficiency, boost production of pulses and high-value crops, and strengthen nutritional security and economic stability for farmers.
Funded under the State Plan Scheme, the mission will be executed in all 30 districts of Odisha. Over the three-year span, the government targets:
- Bringing 11.50 lakh hectares of rice fallow land under pulse cultivation,
- Diverting 1.95 lakh hectares of upland and medium-land paddy areas to non-paddy crops, and
- Converting 1.97 lakh hectares of paddy areas to indigenous aromatic rice varieties with strong export potential.
This pioneering initiative is expected to be a game changer for Odisha’s agriculture sector. By encouraging diversified cropping systems, the mission will not only reduce dependence on paddy but also mitigate environmental pressures, promote climate resilience, and empower rural communities with better livelihood opportunities.
