In 2022, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared on November 10 as Mandia Divas (Millet Day). According to ‘Odisha Millet Mission’ policy, CM approved the plans for hosting International Millet Day on November 10, 2023.

The international conference to be organised in collaboration with various affiliates like FICCI will have two days of interactive sessions, G2B and B2B meetings to discuss leadership and facilitation to promote Odisha Millet Mission and Millet Shakti. Through social media campaigns and strategic initiatives such as PR programmes, consumer demand for millets and value-added products produced in Odisha will be encouraged and developed.

A detailed action plan has been prepared like millet quiz competition, essay competition, exposure visit, food festival, rural history program to involve students in collaboration with OSEPA, School and Mass Education Department. Chefs of various hotels and restaurants are being trained in preparing delicious dishes prepared by millets.

The conference will create an opportunity for engagement and collaboration with educational institutions, health institutions, hotel associations, safe associations and others to create wider awareness among students and consumers as nutritious and health-enhancing food options.

The convention will also showcase the success stories of farmers, women self-help groups and other stakeholders of the Odisha Millet Mission. This will facilitate market linkages between companies, MSMEs, FPOs, WSHGs for millet based products.

Briefing about the convention, Principal Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department Dr. Arvinda Kumar Padhee said the meet will encourage the marketing and export of millet-based products, including measures to include the use of millet food in the public distribution system, ICDS, mid-day meals, hostels, etc.

The conference will also help in linking millets with sports and incorporating millets in all sports hostels, engaging schools, hotels, hospitals, celebrities in the use and promotion of millets, linking millets and green investments, re-exploring investments in the Odisha Millet Mission.

Odisha Millets Mission is now expanded to 177 blocks covering 30 districts from 143 blocks in 19 districts. Odisha Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister has approved expansion of OMM from 2023-24 to 2026-27.

Among others, Development Commissioner and ACS Anu Garg, Commissioner –cum- Secretary, Mission Shakti Department, Sujata Karthikeyan, Director of Agriculture Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Special Secretary of Home Department Dr. Santosh Bala and other officials were present.

Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA) is being implemented in 15 districts of the State with an objective is to intensify and diversify agricultural production and enhance climate resilience under four components: climate smart intensification and diversion of production; improving access to irrigation and water productivity; institutional capacity strengthening and project management.

Besides improving availability and irrigation in minor irrigation tanks, the project is taking up cross-sectoral convergence of water/ agriculture/ horticulture/ fisheries sectors to benefit farmers through increased quality of irrigation service; average yields; marketable outputs; diversified incomes; climate resilience etc.

Similarly, the Green Climate Fund is a project aimed at ground water recharge in community ponds through structural adaptation measures and use of solar pumps for micro irrigation to ensure water security in vulnerable areas. Key components of the project are adaptation of ground water recharge system, renovation of community tanks, integration of solar pumps for irrigation, capacity building of stakeholders etc.

During the review, she asked all the key departments to work in close coordination for realising the project objectives and ensuring benefits for the communities. She stressed that, besides accelerating all the activities of the projects, there is a need for pursuing innovation, building climate smart villages and leveraging technology for effective monitoring.

Among others, Principal Secretary of PR&DW Department Sushil Kumar Lohani, Principal Secretary of A&FE Arabind Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of F&ARD Suresh Kumar Vashisth, CGM NABARD, directors of the key departments, Collectors of Ganjam and Mayurbhanj and representatives of agencies such as ICRISAT, ICARDA and IRRI and other stakeholders associated with the projects were present.