Bhubaneswar, Odisha : The first preparatory meeting for Mandia Divas 2025 was held today at Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy Minister, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
Odisha is the only state in India to dedicate a day exclusively to millets, observed as Mandia Divas (Millet Day) on November 10 every year. This year, a two-day International Symposium on Millets will be organized on November 10–11, with the theme “Conservation of Agro Biodiversity and Agricultural Heritage by Women Farmers.”
Deputy CM Singh Deo emphasized Odisha’s pioneering role in promoting millet production, consumption, and conservation. The state has set benchmarks in bringing back nutritious forgotten foods to mainstream diets. Recently, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) procured Finger Millet from the state and plans to lift 40,000 metric tonnes of millets from Odisha this year, further boosting farmer incomes and market access.
The upcoming symposium will feature participation from over 400 farmers, alongside eminent scientists and global experts. Distinguished personalities such as Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women scientists from the World Food Programme, and researchers from ICAR and ICAR-CIWA will take part.
During the preparatory meeting, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, presented program details and outlined the department’s roadmap. He highlighted the significance of women farmers in conserving agro-biodiversity. Director Agriculture Shri Shubham Saxena, Director Soil Conservation & Watershed Shri Subrat Kumar Panda, and senior department officials also shared key inputs and suggestions to strengthen the event.
The International Symposium on Millets is expected to position Odisha as a global leader in millet promotion and showcase the critical role of women farmers in preserving agricultural heritage and food security.
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