Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy, a Directorate of Developments, later renamed as Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production, was established before independence i.e. in 1945 including horticulture and soil conservation as two vital wings. Horticulture and Soil Conservation separated in 1977 and 1978 respectively. The Directorate of Horticulture was born in 1977 following the separation from the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production. Similarly, the Directorate of Soil Conservation was formed in 1978 as per Govt. G.O. No. 14830/AC/Resolution dated 29th April 1978. Odisha Watershed Development Mission was formed as a registered society under the Agriculture Department on 30th June 2000. Now the mission is merged with soil conservation and renamed as Directorate of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development.

 Presently, the Department has three imperative directorates, i.e. Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production (DA&FP), Directorate of Horticulture (DoH) and Directorate of Soil Conservation & Watershed Development (DSC&WD), autonomous institutes of research and pieces of training like Institute on Management of Agricultural Extension (IMAGE), Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), Regional Institution on Training & Extension (RITE), Minor Irrigation & Water Use Training Institute, State Seed Testing Laboratory, Agricultural Implement Factory, Pulse Research Station at Nayagarh, Research on Agricultural Implements, Bhubaneswar and number of district-level Adaptive Research Stations.

 Apart from this, four Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) namely, Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC), Odisha Agro Industries Corporation (OAIC), Agriculture Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (APICOL), Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation (OSCDC) and autonomous registered societies like Odisha State Seed & Organic Products Certification Agency (OSSOPCA) are also functioning under the department.

 

Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)

In 1956, Dr. J.H. Longwell from the University of Misouri visited Odisha and had discussion with the State Government which resulted in a contract between the Government of India and the University of Missouri to provide assistance to the Agriculture and Veterinary Colleges of the State. In 1960, a decision was taken to establish an Agricultural University in Odisha in the pattern of the Land Grant Colleges of USA and Dr. Ide P. Trotter joined the Utkal Krishi Mahavidyalaya on 1st April, 1960, as a consultant in Educational Administration. President Elmer Ellies of the University of Missouri, visited the Agriculture and Veterinary Colleges of Odisha in 1961 and had discussion with the State Government for establishment of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.

 In 1961, the Legislature of the State of Odisha enacted the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology Act, 1961 (Odisha Act 20 of 1961) with the object of establishing and incorporating a University of Agriculture and Technology for the agricultural education of the people of the State. The University took its birth on 24th August, 1962 when it was inaugurated by Prof. John K. Galbraith, the then U.S. Ambassador in India. The University came into operation from 1st February, 1963, when the two Govt. managed Colleges, the Utkal KrushiMahavidyalaya and the Odisha College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry with their staff were transferred to the University. This Act passed in 1961, was later repealed in 1965 by the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology Act, 1665 )Odisha Act, 17 of 1965) which came into fore from the 3rd November, 1965.

 The University started a College of Basic Science and Humanities with the Pre-University Science class sin 1964 and in the following year the Pre-professional science class was added. The College of Agriculture Engineering and Technology came up in the year 1966.

 In 1981, another College of Agriculture was started at Chiplima. In the same year, the College of Engg. & Tech., College of Home Science, College of Fisheries, Rangeilunda and PG Deptt. of Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar were established. In 1986, the Department of Forestry was started to offer the Bachelor's degree in Forestry under the College of Agriculture, Bhubaneswar.

 In February, 1963, the State owned Agricultural Research Station at Bhubaneswar was transferred to OUAT. Subsequently, Berhampur, Jaypore, Chiplima, Kendrapara, Pottangi and Jashipur Research Stations were brought under the University. As the research areas were extended to more disciplines through aegis of several All India Co-ordinated Research Projects and ad-hoc schemes funded by ICAR, Govt. of India and other agencies, more research stations were established.

 In 1978, four Regional Research Stations were established under the "Odisha Agriculture Development Project (OADP) with World Bank funding at Bhubaneswar, Chiplima, Keonjhar and Semiliguda to undertake location specific research. Another 13 Adaptive Research Stations, one in each of the old revenue districts of the State were established to verify the research results generated in the Regional Research Stations.

 From 1983 to 1995, the University research capability was further strengthened through implementation of the National Agriculture Research Project (NARP). Four Zonal Research Stations at Ranital, G.Udayagiri, Bhawanipatna and Mahisapt, four Zonal Substations at Kirei, Kalimela, Umerkote, and Motto and one commodity Research Station on Sugarcane at Nayagarh were established. Besides, the Maize research station at Joshipur, Species research station at Pottangi and the Jute and allied fibre research station at Kendrapara are functioning under the University.

 The extension education programme of the University was operating in several villages of the State to help the farmers to help themselves. From 1982 to 1995, the extension programme was further strengthened through establishment of eight Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Koraput, Keonjhar, Balasore, Ganjam, Bargarh, Phulbani, Kalahandi and Kendrapara)

 Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Limited (OAIC)

The Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Limited was incorporated on 17.12.1968 as a Government Company with equity participation from the Central Government and the Government of Odisha. This corporation is under the administrative control of the Agriculture Department in Govt. of Odisha and engaged in executing different schemes, programmes of different departments of the state like Agriculture, Water Resources, Forest and Environment, Rural Development, Industries, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste Development, Panchayati Raj, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development etc. This Corporation has been engaged in carrying out different activities as under: 

• To create and develop irrigation sources for providing irrigation facilities to non-irrigated agricultural land in the State.
• To provide types of equipment and system to farmers for optimal utilization of available water for irrigation.
• Supply and installation of electric and diesel pump sets.
• Supply and installation of sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation system.
• Sale of Tractor.
• Sale of power tiller & power reaper.
• Sale of improved Agrl. implements.
• Sale of P.P. Equipments
• Sale of storage bins.
• The hiring of Bulldozer and Air compressor.
• Manufacturing and marketing of biofertilizer, compound feed for cattle, poultry, duck, deer etc.
• Sale-of-Chemical-Fertilizer, P.P Chemicals, Gypsum and other Agro inputs.

 Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (APICOL)

The Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (APICOL) was incorporated on 01.03.1996 to bring enterprise into agriculture as envisaged in the State Agriculture Policy 1996. It started functioning on 01-06-1996 with the sole objective of promoting agro-based industries/food processing industries including commercial agriculture/horticulture/animal husbandry/fisheries, in broad terms to promote investment in Agriculture and allied sectors.

 The Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited(APICOL), a Government of Odisha undertaking, coming up as a promotional organisation for assisting agricultural enterprises in the state of Odisha. APICOL would promote enterprises in agriculture within the state with suitable guidance for project formulation, counselling, enterprise development and assistance in project implementation.

 The Corporation is also acting as a virtual office of Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for the state of Odisha and Nodal Office of Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC). The Corporation is also disbursing subsidies under various schemes of State Agriculture Policy.

 Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd. (OSCDC)

Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd. (OSCDC Ltd.) was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 on 6th April 1979 for the development of cashew in the state of Odisha. The main objective of OSCDC Ltd. is to give a thrust on the development of cashew plantations and strengthen the economy of the state by commercially exploiting cashew crops in the state. Initially, OSCDC Ltd. embarked upon its activities in the then 7 nos. of undivided Districts of Odisha. During its 40 years of existence, OSCDC Ltd. has expanded its activities and is now having 604 nos. of cashew plantations over the possession area of 27,941.012 hectares under 20 nos. of Revenue districts of the state. In the year 1993, the Government of Odisha have declared OSCDC Ltd. as the Nodal Agency for cashew cultivation/expansion in the state. The OSCDC is developing new cashew plantations since 1999-2000 investing its own fund as well as with partial assistance from the Directorate of Cashew nut & Cocoa Development, GOI. By the FY 2018-19,8,111.15 hac. new plantations have been developed. The OSCDC Ltd. has 21 nos. of cashew clonal nurseries with a production capacity of 30.00 lakhs high yielding cashew grafts. The OSCDC Ltd. has its own mango scion banks to produce quality mango grafts and in the year 2011-12 has established a medicinal plants nursery under the National Mission on Medicinal Plants (NMMP).

 Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited (OSSC Ltd.)

Seed is the basic and primary input for Agriculture Production. The Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited came into existence and was incorporated on 24th February 1978 under the Companies Act, 1956 with the main objective to produce, multiply, procure, process and supply Breeder, Foundation and Certified seeds to improve production and productivity in the state. OSSC is the Nodal Agency catering to the need of farming organizations through debtor organizations like Director of Agriculture, Director of Horticulture, Department Farms and Private firms engaged in Seed utilization. OSSC procures Breeder Seeds which is allocated by Govt. of India in the Agriculture Co-operation Department (Seed division) as the breeder seed is the most precious resource of the farmers and farming community. Supply, production, procurement, processing, preservation and promotion of seed development activities take a major role in the Agriculture scenario. The good seed of improved varieties is one of the most important agricultural inputs for obtaining increased crop production and giving economic benefit to the farmers

 Odisha State Seed & Organic Products Certification Agency (OSSOPCA)

Odisha State Seed Certification Agency(OSSCA) was formed on 3rd June 1977 and registered under Societies Registration Act,1860(Reg. No. 12176/1112 dt 14.10.1977), to carry out the functions of certification Agencies under Seeds Act 1966 in Odisha State w.e.f. 01.09.1978 with a mandate to maintain and make available to public high quality seeds(with prescribed standards) and propagating materials of notified kind & varieties so grown and distributed as to ensure genetic purity through certification. To carry out Organic Certification in the state, OSSCA has been renamed Odisha State Seed & Organic Products Certification Agency(OSSOPCA) from which a separate agency has been carved out which is called Odisha State Organic Certification Agency(OSOCA) for the purpose. Now OSOCA has been accredited under NPOP to function as Inspection & Certification body for organic crop production with effect from 01.06.2012.

 OSOCA is the abbreviation of Odisha State Organic Certification Agency formed during 2007 as a part of government initiative to provide an institutional mechanism for taking up organic certification in the state of Odisha. It was carved out of OSSOPCA (Odisha State Seed & Organic Products Certification Agency) to carry out the function of Inspection & Certification Body as laid down in the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) with its headquarter at Plot No. 326, Baramunda, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

 OSOCA proposes to provide an institutional mechanism for organic inspection and certification in the State of Odisha in particular and outside areas in general to ensure better quality organic products to the consumers. OSOCA assures of globally competitive quality certification services to the operators through a reliable certification programme formulated by an efficient and sustainable organizational set-up that provides for consistent degree of non-discrimination, fairness and transparency with commitment to obtain and maintain accreditation as per NPOP guidelines.

 Institute on Management of Agricultural Extension (IMAGE)

Institute on Management of Agricultural Extension (IMAGE), is an autonomous body registered under Society Act on state 01-03-1999 with an objective of extending skills, capacities and modern techniques of agriculture to the farmers of the state.  Over the years, IMAGE has been organising various on-campus and off-campus trainings on agriculture and allied sector themes apart from extension management. It plays a vital role for funding and monitoring the ATMA programmes at the state level under the guidance of the State Nodal Officer.

 IMAGE is executing a centrally sponsored scheme "Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms" and state sector schemes like "Ama Krushi and BALARAM" as a nodal agency in the state. It is also monitoring implementation of the State's own initiative "Ama Krushi" and over 11 lakh farmers are the active users of the service.

 Apart from this, IMAGE as State Resource Centre, is organising MANAGE, Hyderabad governed distance course "Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI)". IMAGE as the state resource centre and examination centre is organising diploma courses attempting to strengthen and enhance the capacity of existing extension functionaries.