Odisha CM inaugurates convention aimed to prepare global roadmap for millets

“My government will put all the efforts to make Odisha become a centre for excellence and contribute to economic growth, wellbeing, and health of the people of Odisha. Millets are traditional grains, climate resilient and a power house of nutrition. Millets can play an important role to achieve nutritional security. Millets are emerging as hope for our future,” said Patnaik on the occasion.

Focusing on the state’s initiatives, Patnaik said the Odisha government always prioritised the welfare of every segment of society. “We launched the Odisha Millets Mission in 2017 with a focus to revive the millets. For us, promotion of millets is about justice and equity to rain-fed farmers of Odisha. To encourage millet cultivation, we have increased the direct benefit incentives for millets and laid out assured procurement of ragi,” said the CM.

Millets are being actively cultivated in 177 of the total 314 blocks across all the 30 districts in Odisha. To address the marketing problem of millets cultivated by farmers, Odisha started a procurement regime to buy back millets at minimum support price. From procurement of about 17 thousand quintals in 2018-19, it has now increased in excess of 6 lakh quintal in just four years, said official sources.

With stakeholders from various sectors, including representatives from six countries and tribal farmers, attending the convention, Patnaik called upon all to spread word about the millet mission so that “every eligible farmer can become part of this journey”.’

Praising the role of Mission Shakti women self help group (SHG) in the millet value chain, Patnaik said that under the brand of ‘Millet Shakti’, Mission Shakti Groups have showed the world how millet-based enterprises can play an important role in appealing to the taste buds of consumers and improve livelihoods.

Odisha has planned to include millets in the public distribution system (PDS), in the mid-day meal programme and at anganwadi centres. The government is also working with schools, hospitals, health centres and hotels to include millets-based diet in their food.