Millet Brand Ambassadors From Odisha Set To Inspire World At G20 Summit; Know About Curated Tour & Feast

Bhubaneswar: Two tribal women from Koraput and Mayurbhanj districts are set to inspire the world at the G20 Submit in Delhi with valuable insights on millets, sustainable agriculture, healthy eating habits and the success of Odisha Millet Mission.

The millet brand ambassadors from Odisha are Raimati Ghiuria, a pioneering farmer from Kundra block in Koraput, and Subasa Mohanta of Matiagarh village of Mayurbhanj district. Besides talking about benefits of the highly nutritious coarse grains to the world leaders and delegates at Bharat Mandapam, they will also elaborate on the lifestyle of the tribals and efforts made to preserve millet, sources said.

While stating that the world will now get to learn about the success of Odisha Millet Mission, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also posted about the duo on his official X handle.

Speaking to media, 36-year-old Raimati said she is delighted to attend the G20 summit. “I have heard that leaders of at least 20 nations will participate in the meeting. I will showcase kundra bati madia (finger millets) and the tribal method of cultivating it,” she said.

Raimati further said that she would emphasise the importance of better technology and scientific farming methods introduced by the Odisha Millet Mission since 2017, which has significantly improved the yield and quality of millet farming in the district. As a resource person imparting training on millet intensification, she has preserved more than 72 traditional varieties of indigenous rice and more than 30 varieties of the millets. Her exceptional contributions to agriculture have earned numerous accolades, including the Genome Saviour Community Award in 2012, Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy Fellowship Award in 2015, Best Farmer Award by TATA Steel in 2015, 2017 and 2018 among others.

Notably, their inclusion is linked to an exhibition centred on millets, including millet start-ups, millet rangoli and live cooking, during the G20 Summit set to be held in Delhi on September 9 and 10.

The spouses of G20 leaders will be taken on a curated tour of the 1,200-acre Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) campus on September 9. They will also get an opportunity to interact with farmers and agriculture-based startups about the country’s heritage, farming practices and successes in the field of food production. A millet-based feast, prepared by celebrity chefs, will be hosted for the dignitaries. The guests will get to know how to make rangoli with millets, reports said.

This is significant as 2023 is being marked as the International Year of Millets.