Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister KV Singh Deo on Friday stressed the importance of developing a distinct brand identity for Odisha's mangoes to enhance farmers' income and strengthen agricultural exports. He made these remarks while attending the state-level Mango Festival here.
Mango Festival Highlights Biodiversity and Sustainable Farming
The festival, jointly organized by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, and the State Directorate of Horticulture, showcased Odisha's mango heritage along with efforts in biodiversity conservation and sustainable farming. The event drew growers, scientists, and consumers, and also highlighted the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' aimed at promoting awareness about protecting agricultural land.
Call for Crop Diversification
Singh Deo underlined the need for crop diversification to improve farm productivity and resilience. He urged farmers to adopt pulses, oilseeds, and fruit crops such as dragon fruit, citing its high market potential and medicinal value. He called for a shift from traditional mono-cropping practices to more sustainable and profitable alternatives.
Government Initiatives and Expert Insights
The Deputy CM said the state government is facilitating exposure visits and knowledge-sharing programs to help Odisha's farmers adopt successful practices from across India. Other speakers also discussed key challenges and opportunities in the horticulture sector. Agriculture Secretary Sachin Jadhav noted that Odisha has more than 2.5 lakh hectares under mango cultivation. ICAR-IIHR Director Tushar Kanti Behera presented high-yielding fruit varieties developed to support local growers.
Exhibition and Direct Sales
An exhibition at the venue displayed more than 60 varieties of mango. Scientists interacted with farmers on orchard management and pest control. Several Farmer Producer Organisations set up stalls to sell mangoes directly to consumers, improving market linkages, according to an official statement.
ORMAS Mango Festival
Separately, the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) is organizing a Mango Festival from May 30 to June 10, with direct-sale counters in Bhubaneswar at Patia, Saheed Nagar, the SIRD campus, and Madhusudan Park in Pokhariput. Farmers are selling naturally ripened mangoes directly to consumers at affordable prices without middlemen.
