Bhubaneswar: To win back the confidence of farmers, chief minister Naveen Patnaik is reaching out to them in batches on a daily basis to convey his government's initiatives taken for the overall welfare of the community.

Last year, the state government had come under fire from the Opposition following alleged suicides by farmers, particularly in west Odisha, over crop failure.

The death of Brinda Sahu, a Bargarh farmer, had provided enough fuel to the BJP and the Congress to mount their attack on the BJD.

The exercise of chief minister meeting farmers began from June 20. So far, Naveen has met more than 300 farmers from six blocks.

"He will meet 50 farmers from each of the state's 314 blocks," said an official.

The Institute of Management on Agricultural Extension has been tasked to bring farmers here.

Institute director Satyanarayan Mishra said: "The farmers are taken to our classrooms and made aware about various schemes in agriculture, horticulture and other allied sectors. Then they are taken to Orissa University of Agriculture Technology and field trips are organised to give them the exposure."

Describing these meetings a clever ploy ahead of the general elections, BJD sources said that they would act as Naveen's foot soldiers in taking forward the message of good governance.

Paralakhemundi farmer P. Bhaskar Rao, who met Naveen on Thursday, said: "He asked us many questions related to agriculture. Besides, what we learnt about agriculture in Bhubaneswar will stand us in good stead."

If Naveen has sought to keep farmers in focus, the BJP is not lagging behind. Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan is holding a two-day agri-entrepreneurship conclave here from Friday.