Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Nobel Laureate Prof. Michael Kremer, accompanied by a 12-member research team from the University of Chicago, visited Krushi Bhavan to evaluate Odisha’s weather forecast dissemination system and understand its rationality, validity, and acceptability among the State’s farming community.
The visit included a detailed discussion at the Krushi Bhavan conference hall, attended by Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department (DA & FE). Prof. Kremer praised the Department’s Krushi Samrudhi Helpline (KSH), highlighting how it supports last-mile farmers in safeguarding crops against climate-related challenges. He suggested integrating AI-based forecasting that factors in rainfall, temperature, and humidity to better predict pest outbreaks. This approach would help farmers adopt preventive measures, mitigating risks from abnormal weather events. He also emphasized that combining multiple forecasting models with the KSH system could significantly enhance accuracy and effectiveness.
Dr. Padhee elaborated on the Department’s comprehensive initiatives, including Comprehensive Rice Fallow Management to improve soil biomass, crop insurance schemes, customized agro-advisories, digital crop surveys, and the Krushak Odisha database. Other measures include adoption of stress-tolerant crop varieties, digital pest monitoring, and a contingency plan developed in collaboration with OUAT to manage adverse weather effects.
Prof. Kremer appreciated Odisha’s proactive approach to climate-resilient agriculture and expressed his desire for continued collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technical partnerships. He noted that such interventions could serve as a model for other states and regions.
The meeting saw participation from senior officials, including Mr. Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture and Food Production; Mr. Subrat Kumar Panda, Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development; the Additional Secretary; scientists from OUAT; and members of the Climate Resilience Cell (CRC).
Prof. Kremer’s visit underlines the importance of merging cutting-edge technology with local knowledge to strengthen the State’s agricultural framework and empower farmers to face evolving climate challenges.
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