On June 16, an interactive meeting, was organized under IRRI-GoO-DSR-Odisha and CSISA project with all stakeholders to scale mechanized/precision direct-seeded rice (DSR) and rabi season pulses & oilseeds in Odisha” in Bhubaneswar. The meeting helped explore the scaling pathways for mechanized/precision direct-seeded rice in the Kharif season and line sowing of rabi pulses & oilseeds.

Professor B.R. Kamboj, Vice-Chancellor, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University (HAU) & Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST), Hisar, at the meeting, highlighted the remarkable achievements in agriculture by Odisha agriculture last many years. Emphasizing the need to continue the good practices, he said that mechanized direct-seeded rice followed by pulses and oilseeds and improved agronomy needs to be popularised in Odisha.

Dr. P.J. Mishra (Dean Extension Education) and Dr. M.M. Mishra (Dean Research) of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) stressed that besides exploring opportunities for crop diversification, national and international institutes should join hands to enhance the productivity and income of smallholder farmers in the state. Mr. K. Naidu, Bayer Crop Science Production Manager for Odisha, assured that hybrids, herbicides, and pesticides, would be made available to promote the DSR- technology & carbon farming initiatives in Odisha. Dr. Ashok Kumar, DSR-Odisha & CSISA Project coordinator, apprised the participants of the planned activities of both the projects, achievements, and progress in collaboration with other partners. During the interaction facilitated by Dr. Bidhan of IRRI-CSISA Odisha, 93 participants and stakeholders (OUAT, DAFE, DMS, women SHGs, private companies, NGOs, manufacturers, dealers, service providers, scientists) brainstormed on the issue of improving and scaling current efforts and results.