- "Odisha positioned to Meet Future Global Food Security Needs: Deputy CM"
- 4 MoUs have been signed which will cover approximately 1,000 MT of healthier rice valued at ₹6 crore business committments
Bhubaneswar — Oct 2026 — In a major push toward building a market-oriented, future-ready agricultural ecosystem, the Odisha Healthier Rice Business Summit 2026 convened today at Lyfe Hotel, Bhubaneswar. Jointly organized by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE) and the Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and ORMAS, the landmark event brought together key stakeholders—including farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), women-led producer groups, private processors, and research institutions—to transition Odisha’s rice sector from conventional cultivation to a value-driven, farmer-centric economy. Supported by technical research from IRRI and Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), the state is scaling its production of nutrient-dense crops—such as low-GI, ultra-low GI, high-protein, micronutrient-rich varieties, and traditional aromatic rice like Kalajeera—from the current 1,200 hectares to a target of 10,000 hectares over the next four to five years, anchored by a state-of-the-art Specialty Rice and Millet facility for advanced processing and value addition.
Addressing the delegates, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment, Energy, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, emphasized the state government’s steadfast commitment to empowering growers and enhancing rural incomes. Odisha is moving beyond conventional rice production towards a value-driven and farmer-centric rice economy. Odisha to Play Key Role in Meeting Future Global Food Security Needs, stated Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. By bringing together our farmers and FPOs with research institutions, industry, and markets, we can promote healthier and nutritious rice, strengthen value addition, and create better income opportunities for our farmers. Government is committed to providing the infrastructure, policy support, and institutional convergence required to take Odisha’s healthier rice from the field to national and global markets. His address underscored the summit’s central message: taking healthier rice from the research plot to the commercial market with the farmer as the primary beneficiary.
The summit demonstrated immediate commercial traction, marked by the formal execution of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Letter of Intent (LoI), and Purchase Order signing ceremonies. Business commitments announced during the program cover approximately 1,000 metric tonnes (MT) of healthier rice valued at ₹6 crore, involving key industry buyers and prominent FPOs such as KisaanSay, Bijaylaxmi Agro, Jaivik Sri FPC (Koraput), and Loisingha W-FPC (Balangir). Key dignitaries and domain experts—including Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, (Commissioner-cum-Secretary, DA&FE), Prof. Pravat Kumar Roul (Vice-Chancellor, OUAT), Mohammad Sultan (Director General, Indian Rice Export Federation), alongside representatives from the Embassy of Madagascar and commercial importers—deliberated across technical sessions on supply chain integration, traceability, quality assurance, and market scalability, cementing a collaborative roadmap to deliver nutrition to consumers while driving sustainable rural prosperity across Odisha.
