Paperman Media । Bhubaneswar, November 10
The Odisha government has taken an important step to make the State's agricultural system more sustainable and climate-resilient while also aiming to strengthen nutrition security, women empowerment, biodiversity conservation, and the livelihoods of rural and tribal communities. Towards this goal, today at the Lokseva Bhavan, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Odisha government and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
The MoU was signed in the presence of Smt. Anu Garg, Chief Secretary, Odisha; Shri Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary; Secretaries of various State Government departments; and senior officials. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of MSSRF, and other representatives were also present. On behalf of the State government,Odisha Additional Chief Secretary of the Planning and Coordination Department Smt. Shubhashree Nanda, and on behalf of the Foundation, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, signed the MoU.
Through this collaboration, scientific research, traditional knowledge, and government policy will be coordinated in the fields of agriculture, nutrition, health, environment, and livelihoods. MSSRF will act as the subject-matter knowledge partner with the State government, providing technical support to various departments in areas like policy formulation, program planning, research, skill development, innovation, and program expansion. This cooperation will prioritize climate-resilient agriculture, agro-environmental farming practices, promotion of millets and other alternative crops, protection of traditional seeds and agricultural biodiversity, and development of sustainable food systems. Along with this, the participation of women farmers, economic empowerment, enterprise development, and stronger market linkages will be emphasized. The 'Subhadra Fast' initiative aims to connect women and socio-economically vulnerable families with livelihood opportunities.
It is also stated by the Institution that, through the establishment of Bio-Happiness Centres in agricultural universities, efforts will be made to promote biodiversity management, environment-friendly agriculture, and the protection of natural resources. Special attention will be given to nutrition and health security, improving local food systems, and creating livelihoods in tribal-dominated and remote areas. To strengthen the livelihood and security of small-scale fishers in coastal areas, the development of the 'Fisher Friend' mobile application, expansion of digital services, conservation of fishery resources, and preparation of value-added products will be supported along with the promotion of women fishers' entrepreneurship. Alongside this, joint efforts will be made for the conservation and restoration of water bodies, wetlands, mangroves, and coastal environments.
In areas prone to Migrant workers, focus will be given to creating local livelihoods, expanding agriculture and related activities, skill development, strengthening women's self-help groups, and market linkages. This will help increase local employment and income opportunities and reduce Migrant workers-related insecurity. To review the effectiveness and progress of the action plan, a steering committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the Development Commissioner. This will include the secretaries of the concerned departments and representatives from MSSRF. The committee will hold regular meetings to review the progress, results, and effectiveness of various programs.
MSSRF Chairman Dr. Swaminathan said that this partnership will not only strengthen the relationship between Odisha and the Foundation but also create opportunities for joint efforts towards sustainable management of natural resources. The collaboration will focus on innovation in solving various development issues, green technologies, gender equality, women empowerment, promotion of millets, and the development of agricultural processing technologies.
On this occasion, Chief Secretary of Odisha, Ms. Garg, said that signing this MoU with a prestigious organization like MSSRF is a matter of pride for the State. It is an important step towards science-based, inclusive, and sustainable development in the State. MSSRF will act as a technology partner to support evidence-based measures in agriculture, nutrition, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood enhancement. Under the 'Subhadra' initiative, women will be at the centre of agricultural and livelihood transformation while prioritizing climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods. This five-year partnership is expected to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and pave the way for effective solutions for the overall development and welfare of the people of the State.
