Bhubaneswar: Odisha witnessed the grand inauguration of the International Symposium on Shree Anna & Woman Farmer-2025 on the occasion of #MandiaDibasa (Millet Day). The event, which aims to further popularize and scale up the cultivation and consumption of millets, known as ‘Shree Anna’, was graced by the presence of several dignitaries.
The symposium was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, the Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister, and the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister cum State Agriculture Minister.
The successful organization of the International Symposium on Shree Anna & Woman Farmer-2025 during #MandiaDibasa highlights the accelerated push by the Odisha government to transform millets, or ‘Mandia,’ from a forgotten crop to a global commodity.
At the heart of this scale-up is the strategic leadership of Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment.
Dr. Padhee’s coordination of the international event, which saw participation from Union and State Ministers and global agriculture bodies, underscores his long-term vision to take the Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) to its next phase of growth. The core of his approach is an end-to-end strategy focused on empowering farmers, ensuring market access, and mainstreaming consumption.
The mission, under Dr. Padhee’s guidance, has already achieved national recognition for providing a price guarantee, making Odisha the only state in the country to procure millets at Minimum Support Price (MSP). This crucial policy has provided financial security to the primarily tribal and smallholder farmers.
Scaling up Mandia now focuses on three key areas:
- *Productivity and Technology:* While Odisha has impressively doubled its millet yield per hectare, the focus is now on adopting better research and processing technologies to enhance quality and reduce costs, as emphasized by the Union Agriculture Minister during the symposium.
- *Value Chain Empowerment:* The symposium dedicated a session to the “Woman Farmer,” acknowledging the pivotal role of Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) in processing and marketing. Initiatives like ‘Millet Shakti Cafés’—a key output of the mission—are being expanded to transform Mandia into attractive, processed food items that appeal to urban consumers and attract investment.
- *Consumption Integration:* Dr. Padhee’s department has been instrumental in integrating millets into state nutrition programs, including the Mid-Day Meal and ICDS schemes. The goal is to establish a strong, non-volatile institutional demand for Mandia, thus securing the future of millet farming.
By championing these comprehensive reforms, Dr. Padhee is spearheading the move to designate Odisha as a future ‘Shri Anna Hub’ of India, ensuring that the legacy of millets not only enhances the health of the population but also provides sustainable and profitable livelihoods for thousands of women and small farmers across the state.