A high-level preparatory meeting was convened today at Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Farmers’ Empowerment, and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, to plan the upcoming Mandia Divas 2025 celebrations.
Odisha remains the only state in India to dedicate a day to celebrate millets, observed annually on November 10 as Mandia Divas. This year, the state will host a two-day International Millet Symposium on November 10–11, centered around the theme: “Conservation of Agro-Biodiversity and Agricultural Heritage by Women Farmers.”
The symposium will feature sessions led by distinguished scientists, researchers, and policy experts. Over 400 farmers are expected to participate, alongside eminent personalities such as Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, and representatives from FAO, World Food Program, ICAR, and ICAR-CIWA.
Odisha has emerged as a national leader in millet production, consumption, and conservation. In a recent milestone, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) lifted Finger Millets from the state and is set to procure 40,000 metric tonnes of millets from Odisha alone.
During the meeting, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, presented the program blueprint and outlined the department’s roadmap. Director of Agriculture Shubham Saxena, Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Shri Subrat Kumar Panda, and other senior officials contributed valuable insights and suggestions to strengthen the event’s impact.
