Kendrapada: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) launched a report highlighting state's efforts in managing food, land, and water (FLW) systems at an event held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The report, titled ‘Improving Policy Coherence in Food, Land, and Water Systems to Advance Sustainable Development in India: A Case Study of Odisha,' examines nine key policies. This includes four state-level and five national initiatives to identify best practices and challenges in policy coherence.
The report, titled ‘Improving Policy Coherence in Food, Land, and Water Systems to Advance Sustainable Development in India: A Case Study of Odisha,' evaluates nine key policies, including four state-level and five national initiatives, to identify best practices and challenges in ensuring policy coherence.
"This report's comprehensive analysis is instrumental in ensuring policy coherence for sustainable resource management, robust agricultural systems, and secure livelihoods," said Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, principal secretary of state's department of agriculture, during the launch event.
Supported by the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies, the study highlights strong interdepartmental coordination in Odisha's state-level programs. Notable examples include the Odisha Millet Mission (OMM), which involves 21 departmental secretaries, and the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA), which engages multiple technical organisations to diversify production.
Nitin Bassi, team lead of CEEW's sustainable water programme, stressed the importance of climate-resilient systems. "Coherent policies for governing food production, land practices, and water use will reduce adverse trade-offs and make these systems climate resilient," he said.
The report also showcases initiatives like the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income (KALIA) scheme, which provides cash incentives to farmers, and the Canal Lining and System Rehabilitation Programme (CLSRP), which emphasizes participatory planning and local body involvement.
Key attendees included Debashree Mukherjee, secretary of the department of water resources, river development, and Ganga rejuvenation under the ministry of jal shakti, and Dr. Alok Sikka, IWMI country representative for India and Bangladesh.