Odisha has been honoured with the prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award 2025 for its exceptional strides in agricultural growth, innovation, and sustainable practices. Instituted by the Agriculture Today Group, the award was presented during the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave held in New Delhi. The award was received by Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, at a glittering ceremony attended by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, former Chief Justice of India and Chairman of the Award Committee, Justice P Sathasivam, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and HRD Jayanta Choudhury, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Expressing his gratitude, Singh Deo dedicated the award to the farmers of Odisha, calling them the true “annadatas” of the state. He said the government is committed to making Odisha a model for sustainable agricultural development in India and thanked the Agriculture Today Group for recognising the state’s efforts. This national recognition highlights Odisha’s remarkable achievements in boosting agricultural productivity, modernising farming practices, and fostering inclusive rural development. During the financial year 2024-25, agriculture and allied sectors contributed around 19 percent to Odisha’s Gross State Value Added (GSVA), growing at a rate of 3.3 percent and consistently surpassing the national average for the last five years. Agriculture continues to be the single largest employer in Odisha, engaging nearly 49 percent of the state’s total workforce.

Odisha’s impressive agricultural progress can be attributed to forward-thinking economic policies, sustained government support, and massive investments in rural infrastructure. The state’s focus on crop diversification and promotion of climate-resilient farming practices has positioned it among the leaders in the sector. In 2023-24, Odisha achieved a record rice production of 115.39 lakh metric tonnes, equivalent to 174.83 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, making it the fourth-largest rice supplier to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The state has also made a mark in horticulture. Odisha exported 121.82 metric tonnes of produce including dragon fruit, cashew nuts, mangoes, and various vegetables to countries like the UAE, Qatar, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, and Germany through Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata. Odisha ranks second in India for overall fruit production, first in sweet potato and paddy straw mushroom production, second in brinjal and cabbage cultivation, third in cashew nuts, and fifth in watermelon, cauliflower, okra, tomato, lemon, and coconut production.

The government’s emphasis on technological adoption, farmer training, and value chain development has resulted in increased rural incomes, improved food security, and higher productivity. Odisha also witnessed the highest sale of tractors in India last year, with farm power input reaching 2.60 kw per hectare in 2024-25. The state aims to scale this to 3.5 kw per hectare by 2036. This award recognises Odisha’s transformative journey in agriculture and sets a benchmark for other states aspiring for sustainable and inclusive development in the sector. Odisha’s farmers and progressive policies have together placed the state firmly on India’s agricultural leadership map.