The state has received the highest agricultural productivity award for the second time in 2014 (first time in 2011). But the ground reality is that we don’t even find indigenous vegetables such as papaya and drumsticks in the market. Vegetable prices in the state, particularly in the cities, are becoming increasingly dependant on the supply from outside.

I do admit that and I am aware of the problem. We are planning to revamp both the agriculture and horticulture sectors. We will distribute 40 lakh papaya seeds free of cost to the people. The fact is that sometimes, farmers are losing interest because they are not getting the right price for their products. You will be happy to know that we have an ambitious plan to export mangoes to countries such as Malaysia and Japan.

There has been a huge crop loss due to unseasonal rainfall across the state last week. You had made extensive trips to assess the damage. What did you find during your field visits?

Yes, there has been crop loss. It happened because of sudden change in weather. The change in weather pattern has been clearly noticeable in the state over the past few years. More than God, people are responsible for it (erratic weather). People have constructed buildings and factories on agricultural land, destroyed dense forests and cut trees without going in for adequate plantation.

You must agree that indiscriminate acquisition of land for industrialisation is one of the factors for the shrinking of agricultural lands. This ultimately is affecting agriculture production.

(Pauses) I am not against industrialisation. Odisha needs industries for its economic growth. While the agriculture sector prepares infrastructure for the growth, industrialisation accelerates future growth. We have to strike a happy balance between the two. You need to cut trees for expansion of roads. But one must go for adequate plantation of saplings so that equilibrium is maintained. We have to make some sacrifices for development. But, in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, the issue is different. Here, agricultural land is shrinking because of urbanisation. Land prices are skyrocketing. People are selling agricultural land for housing and industry.

Another worrying development in the state is acute shortage of labour. Agricultural activities, even in rural areas, are being hit by non-availability of labour. It is being said that people are refusing to do manual work because subsidised rice is available at Re 1 a kg, being offered by your government.

This is a wrong conception. One must understand the rationale behind it. We are committed to ensure that no one remains hungry. Odisha is free from hunger. Now no one in the state is dying of hunger. No one is eating mango-kernel (people used to eat this during starvation deaths in west Odisha in the 90s) People are not dying of malnutrition. The economic condition of people in general has improved a lot because of the positive intervention by the government.

There is shortage of labour in the coastal belt. At the same time, we witness migration of labour from west Odisha every year. Don’t you admit that there is something wrong?

(Pauses) We have to admit that there is shortage of labour in the coastal belt. People from rural areas move to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and the metros in search of employment. They receive better wages than what they could earn by staying in their native places. In west Odisha, people prefer to go outside the state, hoping that they will get higher wages for their labour. There are jobs in the coastal belt and we will take steps to create awareness among people (in west Odisha) on this.

Odisha is facing an acute shortage of potato and onion. Something happens outside the state and the prices of potato and onion go up. What are your plans to give a boost to production of these two essential items?

You will be surprised to know that Odisha was exporting potatoes to Bengal during Biju babu’s time. But times have changed. We are now importing potatoes and onions. The problem can be solved to a great extent once we set up a chain of cold storages in the state. We are making plans accordingly. In a few days, we will be opening a cold storage at Titilagarh.

Besides shortage of agriculture produce, we are also facing acute shortage of fish. We have to depend on Andhra Pradesh for fish and eggs.

This is completely a wrong notion. We are self sufficient in fish production. We bring certain kinds of fish such as Rohu and Bhakura from Andhra Pradesh. We export fish to other countries. However, we have to do a lot more in this regard. A fish hub is going to be established on the premises of Central Institute Fresh Aquaculture (CIFA) at Kaushalyaganga on the outskirt of Bhubaneswar.

The fisheries and animal resources development department comes under you. What are your plans for these sectors?

We are taking up poultry development in a big way. I have noticed that the Odisha Poultry Farmers’ Cooperative Federation (Opolfed) centres have deviated from their original objective. The Opolfed kiosk owners were given licences in 2000 to promote poultry products by buying eggs and chicken from local farmers. But the purpose has been defeated.

The Opolfed kiosks have turned into regular restaurants. People visit the kiosks and have a few drinks behind them. I have sought a report from them. If the Opolfed has lost its purpose, the licence of kiosk owners will be cancelled. I know it will be a tough challenge to implement the new decision.

Officers, MLAs and journalists will certainly turn up and object to it. But I will stand for the cause of farmers. Our government attaches priority to the welfare of farmers.

During the first tenure of Naveen Patnaik, you were the chief whip of the legislature party. Later, you were dropped. You were made a minister in 2011 and you resigned in 2012 following the allegations that you had shielded people wanted in a rape case. Now, you must be happy that you are back in the government.

When I received a call from Naveen babu that I was going to be included in his government, I realised one thing. God has given me justice. When you go through difficult times, a lot of questions come to your mind. I used to ask myself where I went wrong. I recalled when everyone, including the media, went against me by highlighting the Bobina rape case, my daughter, who was doing her final year of medical at Puducherry, flew to Bhubanesewar and did not even talk to me. That pained me a lot. It was a crucial moment for me. When I told her that I was not to blame, she was convinced. Now, after my inclusion in the ministry, she said: “Baba, I am proud of you.” That gave me the ultimate satisfaction. I never give up in adverse situations and will not do so even in future. I am an optimist.

Being a jatra party (mobile theatre) owner (also a writer), you are in the habit of delivering dialogues like a jatra artist. You must have paid the price for this. Don’t you repent it at times?

(Laughs loudly) Why repent anything at this age? The time has come for me to take old age pension under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (Maharathy is 59). I have seen many ups and downs in life. I am not worried about it. If I feel strongly about an issue, I raise it in my own style. Every one has his style.

One of the stalwarts of your party, Maheswar Mohanty, was not included in the ministry this time. Will it have any effect in your Puri district politics?

(Pauses) When I was not there (in the government), everything went smoothly. I hope, it will be the same story now. As long as Naveen babu is there in politics, others are immaterial. We are here only because of him.