By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Replacing Raj Kumar Sharma, Sanjeeb Chopra was in October 2022 appointed as Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) in Odisha, typically an Additional Chief Secretary (ACS)-Rank position, serves as the senior-most bureaucratic leader overseeing the State’s Agriculture and Allied sectors, few months after in the said post, Chopra had left for Central deputation and since then the post lying vacant while ending BJD rule, BJP is completing 2 years in the Governance.
Role of Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) involves coordinating policy formulation, scheme implementation, inter-departmental convergence (like with horticulture, fisheries, and animal husbandry), resource allocation, monitoring of central and state programs like ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency), RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana), and farmer welfare initiatives, as well as responding to challenges such as natural disasters, pest outbreaks, and market fluctuations. The APC also chairs key committees, such as the Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG) for extension reforms and state-level sanctioning committees for various schemes.
Assuming the post has been vacant for four years as stated (since approximately 2022), the responsibilities would likely be managed through additional charges by other senior officials, such as the Principal Secretary or ACS of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment. This arrangement could lead to several potential effects on the agriculture sector, which employs about 65% of Odisha’s workforce and contributes around 19-21% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP):
Without a dedicated APC, there might be slower approvals for critical interventions, such as emergency aid during floods or droughts (common in Odisha’s agro-climatic zones). For example, convergence of schemes like PM-KISAN, soil health cards, or climate-resilient agriculture initiatives could face bottlenecks, affecting timely input distribution (seeds, fertilizers) and extension services to farmers.
The APC facilitates alignment between state and central government programs. Vacancy could result in weaker monitoring of field-level activities, leading to inefficiencies in programs like the Odisha Millet Mission or crop diversification efforts, potentially exacerbating issues like low farmer incomes or distress migration from rural areas.
Key areas like post-harvest management, surplus marketing, and access to credit might suffer from lack of focused leadership. This could indirectly worsen challenges such as low productivity in rainfed areas (covering much of Odisha) or vulnerability to price volatility in crops like paddy, cotton, and pulses.
Prolonged vacancy might hinder strategic planning, such as adapting to climate change (like., promoting natural farming or irrigation expansion), leading to missed opportunities for growth in allied sectors like fisheries and livestock, which are vital for rural livelihoods.
However, available data indicates that Odisha’s agriculture sector has maintained steady growth and resilience, suggesting that the vacancy may not have caused major disruptions—possibly due to effective handling by acting officials or robust institutional frameworks.
The sector grew by approximately 3.3-3.8% in 2024-25 (at constant prices), down from 7.6% in 2023-24 but still positive amid national challenges like erratic monsoons. Over the past five years, average annual growth has been around 7%, outpacing the national average of 4.1%. The sector’s contribution to Gross State Value Added (GSVA) remains stable at 19-21%.
Rice output, a staple, rose from 46.14 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in 2000-01 to 115 lakh MT in 2022-23, with continued emphasis on diversification (like Odisha ranks among the top three sunflower-producing states). Allied sectors like fisheries and livestock have also expanded, supporting household incomes.
NABARD projected priority sector credit potential at Rs 2.52 lakh crore for 2025-26 (up 20% from the prior year) and Rs 3.15 lakh crore for 2026-27, with significant allocations for agriculture (Rs 1.14 lakh crore in 2026-27). This reflects strong banking support and government focus on MSMEs and value chains.
Initiatives like the Agriculture Production Clusters (APC) for women farmers, integrated farming in tribal areas, and the Special Programme for Promotion of Millets have continued, boosting incomes (for example from Rs 1,500 to Rs 90,000 annually in some cases) and reducing migration. Evaluations of area expansion schemes (2022-26) focus on yield improvements and tech adoption, indicating proactive management.
Odisha’s GSDP grew by 13.04% in 2024-25, with agriculture playing a stabilizing role despite vulnerabilities like natural disasters. The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights Odisha as a model in areas like crop diversification, irrigation efficiency (28.8% water productivity increase), and aquaculture (67.8% output rise).
In summary, while a prolonged vacancy in such a pivotal role could theoretically strain leadership and efficiency, Odisha’s agriculture sector has demonstrated robust performance through increased production, credit flow, and scheme implementation. This may be attributed to capable interim arrangements and a strong policy ecosystem. Filling the post with a dedicated ACS-rank officer could further enhance responsiveness and long-term planning, especially for climate-resilient practices in a disaster-prone state like Odisha. If the vacancy persists, it risks amplifying future challenges amid global uncertainties like inflation or climate shifts.
