A team of scientists from the ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) conducted an intensive field interaction with farmers under the Odisha Agriculture Drought Mitigation Programme (OADMP) in Raruan block of Mayurbhanj District on March 23-24, 2026.
The initiative, supported by the National Disaster Mitigation Fund and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Bhubaneswar, aimed at understanding ground-level challenges and identifying location-specific strategies for drought mitigation and sustainable livelihoods.
As part of the programme, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted across 12 villages (Badamenta, Panchudala, Godapalasa, Bisidia, Dhangidiposi, Purunia, Tingria, Kulundi, Sanapalasa, Brundeiposi, Panasi and Bhardapasi) under the Godapalasa Gram Panchayat in Raruan block, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha on 23rd March 2026. Using a structured questionnaire, the ICAR-CRIDA team gathered baseline information on natural resource management, prevailing cropping systems, livestock integration, agroforestry practices, farm mechanization and soil health management. Farmers from all the villages actively participated, sharing their experiences, constraints, alongside local agriculture officials.
On March 24th 2026 the team undertook a detailed transect walk across five representative villages viz., Panasi and Panchudala (Godapalasa GP), Takudipala (Bhanjakia GP) and Papada and Reteisahi (Tilokuti GP). The transect walk was carried out across upper, middle and lower landscape to obtain a bird’s-eye view of the entire agro-ecosystem. This walk helped the team to understand field conditions, assess soil variability, water flow patterns, resource-use practices and identify critical intervention points.
The team also visited the Agriculture District Office in Jashipur, where discussions were held with key officials including Shri R.K. Mishra (ADO, Jashipur), Shri Satyabrata Sardar Singh (BAO, Raruan) and Shri Gurucharan Mohanta (BTM, Raruan). The interaction focused on strengthening institutional support and aligning scientific interventions.
The field visit was undertaken by Dr G Venkatesh, Principal Scientist (Agroforestry) and Principal Investigator (OADMP), Co- Principal Investigators viz., Dr. K.B. Sridhar, Senior Scientist (Agroforestry), Dr. Pushpanjali, Senior Scientist (Soil Science) Dr. V. Visha Kumari, Senior Scientist (Agronomy), Dr. Priya P. Gurav, Senior Scientist (Soil Science) and Dr. B. Bhargavi, Scientist (Agronomy).
