Bhubaneswar: The recently concluded International Symposium on Sustainable World Food (ISSWF 2025) strongly reinforced the global significance of millets, or ‘Shree Anna’, with the spotlight firmly fixed on the instrumental role of Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, in escalating the Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) to a model of national and international acclaim.
The symposium, which concluded with a focus on women farmers’ pivotal contribution to sustainable agriculture, was a testament to the comprehensive strategy championed by Dr. Padhee. Under his leadership, the OMM has moved beyond simple crop promotion to implement an end-to-end value chain framework, ensuring the revival of millets benefits the most vulnerable.
A core tenet of this success, frequently highlighted in national forums, is the unique policy of assured procurement. Odisha, due to Dr. Padhee’s strategic guidance, stands as the only state in the country to procure millets at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a crucial move that has provided financial security to thousands of tribal and smallholder farmers.
In a recent address, Dr. Padhee emphasized the mission’s inclusive nature, stating: “Our approach empowers the smallholder tribal farmers who cultivate millet in the rain-fed regions. We focus on supporting the last-mile farmers who are the custodians of millet seeds, ensuring equality and justice throughout the value chain.”
The mission’s success also lies in its integration of millets into public consumption channels. Dr. Padhee’s department has been key in ensuring millets are included in state nutrition programs, such as the Mid-Day Meal and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) schemes, thereby establishing a strong, institutional demand. Furthermore, the expansion of ‘Millet Shakti Cafés’—managed primarily by Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs)—has successfully transformed ‘Mandia’ (Finger Millet) into attractive, processed food items, appealing to urban consumers and bolstering the income of women entrepreneurs.
Through such comprehensive and equitable reforms, Dr. Padhee is actively spearheading the efforts to designate the state as a future ‘Shree Anna Hub’ of India, ensuring that the legacy of millets promotes public health while providing sustainable and profitable livelihoods.