SAMBALPUR ( Odisha Tazanews ) :– In a significant initiative to strengthen the agricultural landscape and promote cooperative values, NAFED Odisha, in association with the Deen Dayal Upadhya Centre for Public Policy and Livelihood Alternatives, has hosted a capacity building programme for farmers as part of week-long celebration of Cooperative Week at Gangadhar Meher (GM) University, Sambalpur. Running from June 29th to July 6th, 2026, the coop week celebration aims to bridge the gap between academic research and grassroots agricultural practice.
The inauguration featured distinguished dignitaries who underscored the vital role of cooperatives in rural development. Dr. Byomkesh Tripathy, Vice-Chancellor of GM University, presided as the Chief Guest. He was joined by Guest of Honour Prof. Mallick, Chairman of the PG Council for Public Policy; Sh. Bijendra Mohanty, Secretary of MARKFED; and Sri Laxmidhar Rout, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (DRCS), Sambalpur.
Ms. Anindita Guha, State Head of NAFED Odisha, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the mission behind this collaboration. Cooperation is the bedrock of agricultural sustainability,” said Ms. Guha. “Our primary focus during this week is to empower the farmers of Western Odisha by fostering awareness regarding the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for pulses and oilseeds. By integrating cooperative efforts with public policy, we can ensure that our farmers receive fair value for their hard work, fostering long-term livelihood security.”
The programme was efficiently coordinated by Mr. Gobinda Murmu, Assistant Manager, NAFED, and Ms. Lizarani Samal, Assistant Manager, NAFED.
Farmers from various districts of Western Odisha, including Angul, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir, and Dhenkanal, participated in the programme. An interactive quiz competition was organised for the farmers, followed by the distribution of prizes to the winners.
