Odisha's Chief Minister Unveils 'Sambandh' Initiative to Empower Farmers
A New Era for Farmers in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: On Friday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi introduced the 'Sambandh' mega membership initiative, designed to integrate more farmers into Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS). He emphasized that these cooperative institutions should act as essential support systems for farmers, rather than being used for political agendas.
During the state-level launch at the OUAT Krushi Shiksha Sadan, Majhi encouraged farmers to actively participate in PACS and LAMPCS, highlighting 'Sambandh' as a means to enhance the bond and trust between the government and agricultural families.
Majhi stated, "Cooperative institutions are not political platforms; they are the lifeline of our farmer brothers and sisters."
He elaborated on Odisha's Cooperative Policy 2026, which aims to evolve PACS and LAMPCS from mere credit providers into comprehensive service hubs for rural communities. These hubs will offer farmers access to fertilizers, seeds, modern agricultural equipment, banking services, crop insurance, and milk collection—all under one roof. Additionally, the government is ensuring a minimum support price of Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy.
As part of the initiative, Majhi inaugurated 185 revamped mandis, 50 Custom Hiring Centres, 250 Common Service Centres (CSCs), 60 new consumer stores, and established new offices and warehouses in 70 PACS, along with milk collection centres in 21 PACS.
He also laid the groundwork for four model mandis and three grain warehouses as part of the world's largest grain storage initiative.
For the first time, the state has initiated the distribution of dividends to farmer-members of PACS and LAMPCS. The dividend distribution for the 2024-25 financial year was launched for members of 322 PACS and LAMPCS, with over 8 lakh farmers from more than 500 cooperative societies expected to benefit.
Furthermore, Majhi introduced a scheme to enhance sugarcane production in cooperative sugar industry regions, aimed at boosting farmers' incomes and revitalizing the cooperative sugar sector. In the initial phase, sugarcane farmers associated with the Badamba and Aska cooperative sugar mills will receive an input subsidy of Rs 15,000 per acre.