The United Nations designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets on the advice of India. Odisha has been recognised both nationally and internationally as a pioneer in the marketing of millets. To resurrect millets in farms and on plates, the chief minister established the Odisha Millets Mission in 2017. Millets are tiny seeded cereals that are incredibly nutritious.
Cereal crops, also referred to as millet, include jowar, bajra, ragi, foxtail, and a number of other crops. Millets grow with little care, little water, and are climate hardy, making them extremely farmer and environmentally friendly. Millets can help against lifestyle diseases because they are high in fibre and contain a lot of iron, zinc, and calcium.
After launching the “Odisha Millet Mission” in 2017, the state of Odisha has taken a number of steps to encourage the use and production of millets there. Using WSHGs of the Mission Shakti Department, Odisha is utilising the strength of women’s self-help groups to resuscitate the millet in families. It is bringing a variety of millet cuisines to consumers in urban and rural regions through the Millet Shakti project.
The most recent accomplishment is the opening of the Millet Shakti shop and Millet Shakti cafe on the collectorate grounds of the Ganjam district. There are already 10 more such cafés open and operated by FPOs and women’s self-help groups, along with six food trucks using millet as a main ingredient. The government wants to encourage gender equality among its people by doing this. The government is also working with numerous prominent restaurants and chefs to train the WSHGs.
On Odisha Millet Day last year, Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik made a statement regarding the mission and stated that it will be carried out in all 30 districts of the state and that more farmers and organisations would participate.
He also added “Mandia is a powerhouse of nutrition. Millet provides nutrition to everyone from children to elderly ones. Small and poor tribal farmers are involved in cultivation of millets. In order to improve their condition and ensure nutrition for the people, we have launched the Millet Mission. We are going to spend ₹2,800 crores in five years”
An incentive of Rs. 26,500 per hectare for 5 years is offered to farmers as support, and the government of Odisha also offers a guaranteed market through the procurement of ragi. By recognising and assisting custodial farmers from our native community, it celebrated variety.
Prasanta Patnaik