States » EastPosted at: Oct 3 2026 8:12PM


Odisha deploys 964 agriculture graduates across 314 blocks to strengthen farm extension network

Bhubaneswar, Oct 3 (UNI) Odisha Government has deployed 964 agriculture and horticulture graduates across all 314 blocks in the state under its flagship ‘Krushi Unnata Sahayogi’ internship programme, aimed at strengthening the agricultural extension network and providing farmers with greater access to technical support.
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister K V Singh Deo formally inaugurated the expanded programme at a special ceremony here on Saturday.
Originally launched in 2023, the programme has now been expanded to all 314 blocks across 30 districts and will be implemented from October to December, coinciding with the ongoing Kharif season.
As many as 964 final-year undergraduate students of Agriculture and Horticulture from different state agricultural universities have been selected as ‘Sahayogis’ (Associates), with around two to three students deployed in each block.
The Sahayogis will work alongside Gram Panchayat-level agricultural extension personnel and assist in strengthening field-level agricultural services. They will undertake pest and crop disease surveillance using digital platforms, including e-Pest and the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS).
As part of the field-based internship, each student will conduct qualitative surveys covering 100 farmers and undertake five semi-physical Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) to assess crop yields.
The students will also visit local agricultural input dealers, one Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), two Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and two Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) or Large-sized Adivasi Multipurpose Societies (LAMPS).
During these visits, they will create awareness among farmers and rural stakeholders about various government schemes and mobile applications and document farmers’ challenges, success stories and feedback.
The programme is designed to provide the students with hands-on exposure to agricultural practices and grassroots extension activities while helping the government obtain field-level inputs for improving agricultural services.
Singh Deo said the initiative would help build a robust agricultural extension network in the state while providing agriculture students with valuable practical experience and closer exposure to the challenges faced by farmers at the grassroots level.
The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic learning and field-level agricultural extension by engaging young agricultural professionals directly with farming communities.
UNI DP
Tags: #Odisha deploys 964 agriculture graduates across 314 blocks to strengthen farm extension network
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