Lok Sabha Question No. 4236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Establishment of Central Agricultural University in Odisha
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Purohit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4236

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY IN ODISHA

4236. SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  establish  a  Central  or  State  Agriculture University in Bargarh district of Odisha, which is known as the 'Rice Bowl of Odisha' and where over 90% of farmers are dependent on paddy cultivation;
- (b) the total paddy production in Bargarh district during the last five years, and whether the Government considers this region for advanced agricultural research and training infrastructure;
- (c) whether  the  Government  plans  to  establish  new  agriculture-focused  higher  education institutions  in  under-served  rural  regions  like  western  Odisha,  particularly  Bargarh,  to  support agro-based innovation and rural employment; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  agricultural  potential  of  western  Odisha, including Bargarh, for setting up a Regional Agri Research and Extension Centre to benefit paddy farmers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

- (a): At present, there is no proposal to establish a Central Agricultural University in Bargarh district of Odisha.

Further, agriculture including agriculture education being the state subject, the concerned State Government can open any new agricultural university as per the need of the region.

(b): Production of paddy in Bargarh district during the last six years is as follows:

| Year    | Production (Thousand tonnes)   |
|---------|--------------------------------|
| 2018-19 | 599.36                         |
| 2019-20 | 582.00                         |
| 2020-21 | 1047.46                        |
| 2021-22 | 817.70                         |
| 2022-23 | 1311.28                        |
| 2023-24 | 577.08 (only kharif)           |

Odisha  already  has  a  Central  Rice  Research  Institute  in  Cuttack,  which  caters  to  the advanced  agricultural  research  in  the  field  of  paddy  and  also  fulfills  the  local  research  and development requirements of the region including Bargarh district. This district is also having one Krishi Vigyan Kendra to meet the extension needs of region.

(c): At  present,  there  is  no  plan  to  establish  new  agriculture-focused  higher  education institutions by Government of India.

However, in the state of Odisha, there is 1 State Agriculture University i.e. Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar with 11 constituent colleges.

Apart from this, the state also has following 09 ICAR-Institutes & Regional Stations:

- (i) ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar
- (ii) ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack
- (iii) ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar
- (iv) ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar
- (v) ICAR-National Institute of Foot and Mouth Disease, Bhubaneswar
- (vi) ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute Regional Station, Bhubaneswar
- (vii) ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research (DPR) Regional Station, Baramunda, Bhubaneswar
- (viii) ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Regional Station, Cuttack
- (ix) Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres (CRIJAF)-Sisal Research Station, Bamra, Sambalpur

The Government has also established 33 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Odisha including one KVK in Bargarh district to promote new technologies of agriculture and allied sectors through technology  assessment,  demonstration and capacity  development  among  the  extension functionaries of state governments and farmers. As part of its activities, the KVK imparts training to the farmers, farm women and rural youth on different aspects of agriculture and allied sectors.

(d): The ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack with its three sub-stations at Hazaribag (Jharkhand), Gerua (Assam), and Naira (Andhra Pradesh) develops and disseminates eco-friendly technologies to enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability of rice cultivation in  different  ecologies  of  various  states  in  the  country  including  Bargarh,  Odisha.  Besides,  the ICAR-Indian  Institute  of  Rice  Research  (IIRR),  Hyderabad,  Telangana  also  looks  after  rice research  in  the  country.  In  addition  to  above,  Odisha  University  of Agriculture  &  Technology (OUAT), located at Bhubaneswar, conducts research and extension activities on rice for Odisha. At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  set  up  a  Regional Agri  Research  and  Extension  Centre  in Bargarh, Odisha.

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