- 45 farmers felicitated for sustainable farming practices
Kalinganagar, January 30, 2026: The ninth edition of “Arunima”, the flagship community-based initiative of Tata Steel Foundation, concluded today at Sukinda College with a high-impact Farmers’ Conclave, bringing together more than 350 farmers from Bamnipal region in Keonjhar district and Sukinda and Kalinganagar regions in Jajpur district. The conclave served as a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration on Integrated Farming Systems (IFS), rational water use, and climate-resilient agricultural practices, reinforcing the vision of harmonious growth between agriculture, communities, and industry.
The concluding day of the three-day event focused on empowering farmers with sustainable solutions that strengthen livelihoods while conserving natural resources. Emphasis was given on the role of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) as a critical driver of rural prosperity, highlighting the benefits of economies of scale, collective bargaining, improved market access, and long-term financial security for farming communities.
Around 45 farmers were felicitated during the event for their significant contributions to sustainable farming practices and income generation.
Attending the programme, Pragyan Parimita Prusty, Block Development Officer, Sukinda, highlighted the adoption of technology-driven, climate-resilient agricultural practices, including crop rotation, agroforestry, organic farming, and water conservation. The conclave also explored the future of agriculture through AI-driven tools and digital innovations, with a special focus on platforms such as Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Plantix. These tools were showcased as accessible and free resources to support farmers in plant health management, knowledge acquisition, innovation, and access to government schemes and benefits—thereby strengthening informed decision-making at the grassroots level.
Addressing the gathering, Debanjan Mukherjee, Cluster Head, Tata Steel Foundation, informed that
over 25,000 farmers have been engaged across Bamnipal, Sukinda and Kalinganagar with more than 400 changemakers identified. These interventions have ensured the generation of over ₹2 lakh of irreversible annual income per farmer through diverse agricultural and livelihood initiatives.
The conclave concluded with vibrant cultural performances celebrating the region’s rich agrarian heritage, marking a fitting close to Arunima 2026 and reaffirming the critical role of community participation in advancing sustainable and inclusive development.
