Significance of Panchayati raj institutions in agrarian governance: A study of Odisha

PRIs have a very significant role to play in agrarian governance, especially in a rural and agriculture dependent state like Odisha. Through this study, the role that PRIs play in formulating the agricultural policies, implementation mechanisms and grassroots decision making processes is examined. Despite wide ranging constitutional mandates of the 73rd Amendment Act, the PRIs continue to be mere implementing bodies rather than autonomous decision makers, which are subjected to bureaucratic control, political interference and lack of structural efficiency. This paper uses secondary data analysis to explicate the challenges of agrarian governance, of price instability, infrastructural deficit, and mismatches of supply and demand. This analyzes the potential and limitations of PRIs in the rural development in the light of schemes like, KALIA, PM-KISAN, and the Underground Piped Irrigation Project in Bargarh. In the study, the need for crop diversification, improved storage facilities, and market linkages is also brought out to reduce Odisha’s dependence on other states. Thus, in the end, it is proved that in Odisha agriculture growth would be sustainable along this way, with PRIs acting as the key facilitator between policy maker and the farmer; helping the effective implementation of policy and the socio economic resilience.