Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Odisha Pushes Toward a Farmer-Centric, Value-Driven Rice Economy
Odisha wants to sell more rice that is nutritious and adds value for farmers.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said farmers need to connect with researchers, businesses and markets.
The government says it will support this work with infrastructure and policies.
The goal is to sell the rice in India and other countries.
At a summit in Bhubaneswar, business commitments were announced for about 1,000 tonnes of nutritious rice.
Those commitments were valued at Rs 6 crore.
The summit’s message was that farmers should benefit first.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said Odisha is shifting beyond conventional rice production toward a value-driven, farmer-centric economy.
He said linking farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations with researchers, industry and markets can support nutritious rice and raise incomes.
The state government said it will provide infrastructure, policy support and institutional coordination to help take nutritious rice to national and global markets.
The summit promoted commercial sales of fortified rice, with farmers identified as the primary beneficiaries.
Business commitments announced at the summit involved about 1,000 metric tonnes of nutritious rice valued at Rs 6 crore.
- Who
- Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations, research institutions and industry participants.
- What
- Odisha is promoting a value-driven, farmer-centric rice economy and commercial markets for nutritious, fortified rice.
- When
- Saturday, at the Odisha Healthier Rice Business Summit 2026.
- Where
- Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Why
- To support future food security, increase value addition and create better income opportunities for farmers.
Conventional rice production
Value-driven nutritious rice
Direction for Odisha’s rice sector
Conventional rice production
The article describes conventional rice production as the model Odisha is moving beyond.
Value-driven nutritious rice
The Deputy Chief Minister advocated a farmer-centric approach focused on nutritious rice, value addition and access to wider markets.
- Event
- Odisha Healthier Rice Business Summit 2026
- Location
- Bhubaneswar
- Rice commitments
- Around 1,000 metric tonnes of nutritious rice
- Commitment value
- Rs 6 crore
- Commercial focus
- Taking fortified rice to commercial markets, with farmers as the primary beneficiaries
- Organisers and collaborators
- Odisha’s Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Department of Mission Shakti, with the International Rice Research Institute and Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society