The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will host the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar today, bringing together key stakeholders from across the region to deliberate on strategies for the development of the agriculture sector.

The conference will be chaired by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and will be attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, agriculture ministers from various states, senior officials, scientists, farmer representatives, agricultural experts, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, banks, and other stakeholders.

The event aims to enhance coordination between the Centre and state governments, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and increase farmers’ incomes through informed policymaking and best-practice sharing. During the conference, the progress of key schemes and programmes of the Ministry will be reviewed, alongside detailed discussions on a broad spectrum of agricultural issues.

Special focus will be given to initiatives such as the farmer registry, opportunities in horticulture, the Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses Production, the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan), the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), farm credit, and Kisan Credit Card-related issues.

Deliberations will also address regulation of pesticides and fertilisers, prevention of black marketing, promotion of balanced fertiliser use, and encouragement of alternative fertilisers.

The conference will feature presentations from different states showcasing innovative agricultural practices. Odisha will highlight its agricultural extension initiatives, West Bengal will share best practices in seed production, Jharkhand will present FPO-based value chains and startup ecosystem successes, and Bihar will discuss its achievements in maize production and marketing.

The Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference is expected to serve as a strategic platform for collaborative problem-solving, knowledge exchange, and the formulation of future strategies for sustainable agricultural growth, aligning with the government’s vision of farmer-centric development.

Following the conference, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will address the media, sharing insights on discussions and outcomes.