Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference to be held in Bhubaneswar on May 19 under the initiative of Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan

**Executive Summary** The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will convene the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on May 19, 2026. Chaired by Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the conference aims to enhance farmers' incomes, promote overall agricultural development, and strengthen coordination between the Central and state governments. The event will focus on reviewing ministry schemes, addressing fertilizer management issues, and sharing regional best practices. **Key Points / Main Content** **Event Objectives and Participation** * **Purpose:** To foster agricultural development, increase farmer income, and improve coordination between the Centre and states. * **Participants:** Attendees include the Chief Minister of Odisha, state agriculture ministers, senior officials, scientists, farmer representatives, agricultural experts, FPOs, startups, and banking representatives. * **Strategic Outcome:** The conference serves as a platform for finding solutions to sector challenges and formulating future strategies for sustainable agriculture. **Review of National Schemes and Missions** * **Farmer Welfare:** Evaluation of the progress of the farmer registry and horticulture sector opportunities. * **Self-Reliance Missions:** Discussions on pulses production self-reliance and the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS). * **Support Programmes:** Review of PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) and the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). * **Financial Credit:** Deliberations on farm credit and issues concerning the Kisan Credit Card. **Regulatory and Resource Management** * **Input Quality:** Strategies to control fake pesticides and fertilizers. * **Market Integrity:** Measures to prevent the black marketing of fertilizers. * **Sustainable Practices:** Promotion of balanced fertilizer use and the encouragement of alternative fertilizers. **Regional Innovation Sharing** * **Odisha:** Presenting initiatives regarding agricultural extension. * **West Bengal:** Sharing best practices in seed production. * **Jharkhand:** Showcasing FPO-based value chains and agricultural startup ecosystems. * **Bihar:** Presenting successful experiences in maize production and marketing. **Impact Analysis** **State Governments** **Impact** States in the eastern region are provided a platform to align their local initiatives with Central schemes and share successful innovations. **Action Required** Participating ministers and officials must present state-specific best practices and collaborate on strategies for regional development. **Farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)** **Impact** They are expected to benefit from improved scheme implementation, better access to credit, and more reliable agricultural inputs (pesticides/fertilizers). **Action Required** Representatives must engage in deliberations to ensure the challenges of the farming community are addressed in future policy formulations. **Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare** **Impact** The Ministry gains a centralized opportunity to review the progress of major national missions and strengthen inter-governmental coordination. **Action Required** The Union Minister and senior officials must evaluate current program progress and address the media following the conference to communicate outcomes. **Agricultural Startups and Banks** **Impact** These stakeholders are integrated into discussions regarding value chains and the delivery of farm credit. **Action Required** Participate in deliberations to help formulate strategies for improving the agricultural ecosystem and credit accessibility.

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