Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the two-day ‘International Shri Anna and Forgotten Food Conference’ organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment here today.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Principal Secretary Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Dr.Arabinda Kumar Padhee graced the occasion.
This Conference is organied for a brainstorming to increase the production and consumption of millet national crops in the state and make Odisha a millet hub of India.
For this, a provision of Rs 649 crore has been made in this year’s budget, he said. At the same time, the Chief Minister urged the mothers to offer bhog to the Mandis on Manbasa Thursday.
Chief Minister said that the nutritious crop or Shri Anna is an integral part of our state’s agriculture. Ragi and other nutrients along with climate tolerance properties are important from the point of view of nutrition and food security. Starting from the undivided Koraput district, this shrianna cultivation has taken the form of a revolution across the country today, and today shrianna is being cultivated all over Odisha. The cultivation has been expanded to around 177 blocks.
Chief Minister said that about 14 types of nutrition grains have been recognized as Srianna in India. Of these, bajra, jowar, ragi are the most popular. While ragi is the largest producer in Odisha, other nutritional crops like Suan, Kangu, Kod, Jana are also widely cultivated. These include antidotes to reduce cancer, anemia, vitamin B deficiency.
Shri Majhi further said that our women farmers have turned ragi cultivation into a movement in Odisha. The two prominent women farmers of the Odisha ragi movement are Raimati Ghuriya in Koraput district and Subasha Mahanta in Mayurbhanj district. They have proved how ragi can change the economic condition of a farmer along with its growth in their own efforts. The Prime Minister made the two women brand ambassadors of Srianna Farming at the G-20 Summit.
The programme also released books on recovery of forgotten food and awarded to the District Collectors of Koraput, Sundargarh and Rayagada for excelling in the production of millets. Sitaram Karkarla of Kalahandi, Sarang Sabar of Gajapati, Gulab Bishi of Balangir were given as the best millet farmer, Lilambar Majhi of Nuapada, Jakrias Kandulna of Sundargarh and Debabrata Pradhan of Sambalpur as successful millet farmers, Kaushalya Goud of Kalahandi as successful food grain farmers, Renuka Danshan of Bargarh and Renuka Danshan of Bargarh. The chief minister also inaugurated an exhibition on endangered food grains and various types of nutritious crops on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said, “People living in our tribal areas are producing forgotten grains and using it as food. It is more nutritious and vitamin-rich than the food we eat. Under the prime minister’s vision, millet crops have been revived. We all have to include this nutritious diet in our food chain.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said that the need for agricultural diversification has increased in the context of climate change. Referring to Sri anna as a food of the future, he said that in view of its widespread use in the coming days, it is necessary to use scientific technology along with traditional methods.
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization and chairman of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, said the conference is a timely step to restore forgotten and small grains. Odisha has diverse food tastes. An example of which is the Chhapanbhog of The Shri Jagannath Temple. Koraput in Odisha is among the two agricultural heritage sites in the country recognised by the World Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Niti Aayog member Professor Ramesh Chand said that the arrival of the Green Revolution has led to a massive change on food items across the world. People’s interest in millet crops has increased.
Dr. Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment delivered the welcome address and Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Director Agriculture gave the vote of thanks.