The Odisha Water Resources Department, in collaboration with JICA and Nippon Koei, recently hosted a one-day workshop at the Loksewa Bhawan Convention Center titled ‘Smart Irrigation and Demand-Driven Water Management Technologies, Innovations and Pathways to Scale’.
Amid changing weather patterns and erratic rainfall, the workshop convened policymakers, engineers, and technical experts to discuss modernizing the state's irrigation framework. Discussions highlighted integrating digital technology, real-time data, and data-driven planning into water management.
Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma emphasized that irrigation benefits must extend beyond water supply to foster crop diversification, boost agricultural productivity, and improve farmers' livelihoods.
Technical sessions covered climate-resilient irrigation, tank rehabilitation, water panchayats, and OIIPCRA livelihood programs. Additionally, participants explored successful models like drip irrigation in Jharkhand, Rajasthan's Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project, and digital water management practices from Japan and Indonesia.
Ultimately, the initiative underscores Odisha's commitment to building a future-ready, efficient, and farmer-centric agricultural ecosystem through smart technological interventions.