PM Modi’s Odisha Visit: A Turning Point for Farmers or Political Optics?

PM Modi’s Odisha Visit: A Turning Point for Farmers or Political Optics?

  July 10, 2025    PARTHASARATHI PANDA

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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Odisha has sparked conversations across political circles, farmer unions, and common households. While the government projected it as a milestone in agricultural development, farmers' reactions have been mixed. Behind the grand announcements and praise-worthy success stories lies a deeper narrative about the challenges and potential of Odisha’s rural economy.

In this blog post, we will explore the real impact of PM Modi’s Odisha visit on farmers—from FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) success stories and central schemes to the ongoing demand for better pricing and compensation.

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PM Modi’s Odisha Visit: A Turning Point for Farmers or Political Optics?

A Backdrop: Agriculture in Odisha

Odisha is primarily an agrarian state, with over 60% of its population dependent on agriculture. Despite its fertile plains and abundant rainfall, the state has historically struggled with:

• Low productivity in comparison to national averages

• Limited irrigation coverage

• High dependence on monsoons

• Small and marginal land holdings

• Seasonal migration due to unemployment in rural areas

Given these conditions, any visit by a Prime Minister—especially one focused on agriculture—naturally garners attention.

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PM Modi’s Visit: The Highlights

During his 2024–25 tours, PM Modi focused on showcasing how his government is transforming rural India. A few highlights from his Odisha engagements include:

1. Recognition of the Kalahandi FPO Success
   PM Modi lauded the efforts of a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) from Golamunda block in Kalahandi, where just 10 farmers formed a collective that grew to over 200 members, including 45 women. This FPO now cultivates vegetables like tomatoes, bitter gourd, and onions across hundreds of acres, generating a turnover of over ₹1.5 crore annually.

2. Promotion of PM Kisan Samridhi Kendras
   The Prime Minister also dedicated over 5,000 PM-KSKs (Kisan Samridhi Kendras) across Odisha. These one-stop centers are designed to provide farmers with access to fertilizers, seeds, soil health cards, crop advisories, and scheme information.

3. Launch of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan
   A major campaign that sent agricultural scientists and experts to rural areas to provide training, clarify doubts, and bridge the knowledge gap between labs and farms—especially helpful before the Kharif season.

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Success Story: Kalahandi's Vegetable Revolution

Perhaps the most positive narrative from Modi’s visit is the transformation seen in the tribal-dominated Kalahandi district—once infamous for droughts and starvation deaths.

The “Kisan Utpad Sangh” FPO demonstrated that collective farming, proper market linkages, and technical guidance can boost incomes and prevent migration.

Key takeaways:

• Increased use of drip irrigation and organic fertilizers

• Focus on high-value crops like tomato and bitter gourd

• Direct selling in Raipur and Bhubaneswar markets

• Women playing active roles in packing, processing, and selling

• Return of migrant laborers to their native villages due to rising income

Modi’s message was clear: if Kalahandi can do it, so can the rest of India. This was not just an endorsement of a local effort but a blueprint for rural transformation.

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Reality Check: Are All Farmers Happy?

Despite these successes, not all farmers share the same optimism. During the PM's Bhubaneswar visit in early 2025, several farmers' groups, particularly the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), staged protests and submitted memoranda listing unmet demands.

Key Demands:

• A legal guarantee of MSP (Minimum Support Price)
  Farmers demanded an MSP of at least ₹10,000 per quintal for paddy. The current central MSP is around ₹2,300 with an additional ₹800 bonus by the Odisha government. Farmers argue that these prices are not enough to cover rising input costs.

• Monthly Farmers’ Allowance
  A fixed monthly amount (similar to unemployment allowance) was demanded for small and marginal farmers, especially during non-crop seasons.

• Loan Waivers for Crop Losses
  Many farmers continue to face debt due to unseasonal rains and natural disasters. While the government provides relief in severe cases, farmers say the process is slow, inadequate, and often politicized.

• Reform in Procurement
  Issues like delayed procurement, digital glitches, and corruption in local mandis were raised. Farmers often are forced to sell below MSP to middlemen.

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Central Government’s Stand

The Centre claims that it is already doing its part to uplift farmers:

• PM-KISAN: Direct income support of ₹6,000/year

• Crop Insurance Scheme (PMFBY): Financial protection in case of natural calamities

• e-NAM: National Agricultural Market for transparent trade

• Soil Health Cards: Promoting efficient use of fertilizers

• FPO Promotion: Funding support and guidance for thousands of FPOs across the country

However, critics argue that while these schemes look good on paper, the implementation remains patchy, especially in states like Odisha with remote and tribal regions.

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Odisha Government’s Response

Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led government has tried to strike a balance between cooperating with the Centre and addressing local issues. They have:

• Offered bonus incentives on MSP

• Introduced KALIA scheme (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) offering ₹10,000 annually to small and landless farmers

• Built RMC mandis and cold storages to strengthen supply chains

• Invested in irrigation projects and rural connectivity

Still, farmer groups feel more needs to be done, especially when it comes to addressing corruption in mandis and ensuring timely procurement.

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Are FPOs the Solution?

The government is pushing FPOs as a major solution for India’s agricultural woes. And they do have their merits:

Benefits of FPOs:

• Better bargaining power

• Collective access to inputs at lower costs

• Easier access to bank loans and subsidies

• Higher market price through aggregation

• Introduction to value addition and processing

But for FPOs to be truly successful, they need:

• Skilled management

• Market linkages beyond local mandis

• Government handholding in the initial years

• Training on digital marketing and quality control

Not all farmers are in a position to form or join FPOs, particularly in fragmented landholding scenarios or in regions lacking basic infrastructure.

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Politics & Optics

Many observers feel that Modi’s Odisha visit, timed ahead of the upcoming state elections, had a strong political undertone. BJP is trying to strengthen its base in a state where it faces tough competition from BJD.

By highlighting agricultural achievements and central schemes, the Prime Minister not only sent a message of development but also subtly campaigned for political support.

However, the farmer protests and their persistent demands reflect a growing awareness and assertiveness among rural voters. They are not swayed by speeches alone—they want tangible results.

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Way Forward: What Needs to Be Done

To ensure that PM Modi’s visit translates into lasting benefits for farmers in Odisha, the following steps are critical:

1. Ensure fair and timely MSP procurement
   Introduce stricter monitoring of mandis and digital platforms for transparency.

2. Expand irrigation and storage infrastructure
   This will reduce crop loss and give farmers more options to store and sell later.

3. Support and scale FPOs with training
   Provide leadership, branding, and logistics support to make them sustainable.

4. Focus on women farmers
   Like the Kalahandi FPO, empower women through skill-building and ownership rights.

5. Boost KALIA and PM-KISAN payments
   Increase the scale and speed of these schemes to meet rising costs.

6. Address climate resilience
   Promote millets, organic farming, and agro-forestry to adapt to erratic weather.

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Conclusion

PM Modi’s visit to Odisha was a high-visibility event that brought the spotlight on rural issues—especially agriculture. The recognition of farmer-led success stories and the promotion of central schemes signal good intentions. But for farmers across Odisha, especially those outside the success stories, real change will depend on addressing ground realities—pricing, procurement, loan relief, and market access.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Odisha’s economy. If the energy and promise of Modi’s visit are followed up with sincere implementation and policy reforms, it could indeed be a turning point for farmers. If not, it will remain just another political pit stop.