The Odisha government has recently decided to roll out the Agri-Tech Smart Farm Initiative (ATSF) in the four district locations,namely Koraput, Jajpur, Puri, and Bargarh, to modify the state’s agricultural ecosystem by employing advanced technologies and sustainable farming practices. Notably, Agri-Tech Smart Farm Initiative (ATSF) is going to be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode to illustrate an economically viable integration of agri-tech innovations with modern farming systems.
Odisha government has chosen four districts of the state for ATSF
According to sources, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department has chosen Semiliguda in Koraput, Sukinda in Jaipur, Sakhigopal in Puri, and Chakuli in Bargarh for the testing phase. It is going to be implemented in the total area of nearly 600 hectares, along with an estimated investment of around Rs 66 crore.
Besides this, the largest unit will come up on nearly 352.58 hectares of land in Semiliguda for Rs 12.77 crore, following 200 hectares in Sukinda at Rs 21 crore, 26.24 hectares in Sakhigopal at Rs 10.74 crore, and 21.6 hectares in Chakuli at Rs 21.29 crore. Significantly, the model smart farms will be provided with micro-irrigation systems, IoT sensors, drones, and crop cameras, along with protected cultivation structures like greenhouses and hydroponics.
Agri-Tech Smart Farms operated under interconnected modules
These smart farms will be operated under interconnected modules led by tech-driven agricultural production, technology demonstration, post–harvest management, and agri-tourism, ensuring a holistic and sustainable techniques for modern farming.
According to officials, the ATSF sites have been meticulously selected to suit local agro-climatic conditions and promote region-specific crops. Among the four districts, Sukinda will emphasize on plantation crops and floriculture intended for export markets, whereas Semiliguda’s tropical savanna climate will support multi-crop smart farming. Likewise, Sakhigopal, famous for its horticultural heritage, will promote specialty crops such as Kagazi lemon and coconuts, and Chakuli will appear as a model for organic and natural farming practices.