Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced that the Millet Mission would be extended to all 30 districts of Odisha.
Speaking on the occasion of ‘Mandia Dibasa’ (Millet Divas) in Bhubaneswar, the chief minister said the state’s Millet Mission has drawn the attention of the entire world and even the appreciation of the United Nations. “Our Millet Mission has become an example for other states. The government has decided to celebrate November 10 as Millet Divas in Odisha to promote millets consumption for better health and the environment,” he added.
Naveen further said the government would spend Rs 2,800 crore in Millet Mission in five years. Now, around 2 lakh farmers, 82 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and 1,200 Mission Shakti groups have been brought under the mission. The numbers will go up as the Mission would be extended to all districts, he added.
The state government launched the Odisha Millet Mission in 2017 to boost the production of millet and improve the economic condition of the small and marginal farmers. The mission is now being implemented in 87 blocks of 15 districts in Odisha.
The government decided to celebrate November 10 as Millet Divas to promote Mandia as an eco-friendly and healthy food product. It also gave another push to popularise millets after the agriculture department in September asked other departments to serve millet-based snacks in all official meetings. Besides millet snacks, ragi sweets have been introduced in midday meals of schools in Sundargarh and Keonjhar districts.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets after India proposed the same to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Also Read: Odisha Celebrates ‘Mandia Dibasa’; Check These Outlets In Bhubaneswar Serving Millet Dishes
