Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The “Climate Resilience Cell” (CRC) at Krushi Bhavan was officially opened on Tuesday by Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), which was established to oversee the execution and monitoring of the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC), views this event as a critical step in strengthening the state’s efforts to develop climate resilient agriculture.
In light of climate change in Odisha, DAFE hopes to develop a carbon-sensitive policy framework for cooperative research, policy analytics, institutional capacity building, and policy engagement and outreach in partnership with international institutional partners. The primary knowledge partners are the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Center for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP). In the current situation, Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo stressed how important it is to implement climate-resilient agricultural techniques.
“To ensure sustainable production and food and nutrition security for all, it is imperative that we move towards climate-resilient practices. IFPRI and CSTEP have been roped in to work closely with the Department and support the CRC in implementing sustainable agricultural food systems, building capacity, and advocating for effective policies, Green House Gases (GHGs) emission reduction and efficient irrigation techniques and support in institutional capacity building for sustaining the climate smart practices in future ” said Singh Deo.
Major dignitaries such as Dr. Prem Kumar Jha, Director of Environment and Special Secretary for Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department; Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Director of Agriculture; Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Director of Horticulture; Shubhranshu Mishra, Additional Secretary, DAFE; and Dr. Mamata Pradhan, Research Coordinator from IFPRI, attended the event. Their attendance emphasized the cooperative efforts to enhance the sustainability and resilience of Odisha’s agriculture.
