‘Mandia’ Products From Odisha’s Ganjam Find Entry In Paris International Food Festival

Bhubaneswar: In a further boost to Odisha government’s Millet Mission, different items prepared from ‘Mandia’ (finger millets) by a woman SHG have fund entry in an international food festival in Paris, France.

Raimali woman SHG of Chirikipada village under Polasar block of Ganjam district has been selected to showcase the Mandia items in the food festival. Different items prepared from Mandia like porridge, cake, ladoo and ‘ganthia’ (deep fried item from dough of powder) and others would be put on display along with delicacies from other countries.

President of the SHG Chandrama Sahu along with her team has already left for Paris to participate in the gourmet festival. Labour Minister Srikant Sahu and other prominent persons have wished them luck.

‘India’, a voluntary organisation in Polasara block, has been tasked to promote Mandia cultivation and awareness about its health benefits under Mandia Mission of the government. More than 1600 farmers have taken to Mandia farming in 72 villages under the block.

It may be noted the Odisha government had announced to celebrate November 10 as Mandia Diwas in the state in order to promote Mandia as an eco-friendly and healthy food product.

On August 12, the government approved the second phase of ‘Odisha Millet Mission (OMM)’, which is touted to be the second largest targeted agricultural programme after Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA), at an estimated investment of Rs 2808.39 crore over six years from 2021-22 to 2026-27.