Millet Mission: Transforming Nutrition and Health Landscape Across Odisha & Beyond

Bhubaneswar, August 2: ``Millets have a greater role to provide both the nutrition and better health for people in the future and we have to revive the millet cultivation and try to serve it on every platter across Odisha,’’ said Agriculture Minister Ranedra Pratap Swain today on a State-level workshop on millets.

Saying that the Millet Mission of Odisha has been doing an outstanding work and contribution towards popularizing the produce, Swain also narrated how the public-private partnership on this project have benefitted the state and its people, including its primary producers, the tribal people of the remote areas across Odisha.

Saying that as the year has been celebrated as the International Year of Millets, Odisha Government is extending assistance of Rs 26,500 per hectare for five years. This effort has been extended to 177 blocks across all 30 districts of Odisha.

Principal Secretary Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Dr Arabinda Padhee, himself an agriculture expert, said ``on the calendar of Odisha Government Millet Mission is considered as a major task and its popularity will also contribute towards a balanced ecosystem and climate resilient earth. With the cooperation from all departments of the state government and other private organizations, Odisha Millet Mission would be able to transform the scenario across the globe.’’

Director Agriculture and Food Production Prem Chandra Chaudhary said ``till date Odisha has 8 millet cafes, 6 Millet Shakti Outlets, 4 Millet-on-wheel, 153 Millet Tiffin Centres and 1419 Millet Processing Centres.’’