THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 10, 2026
Odisha has charted an ambitious roadmap for millet-led agricultural transformation,
targeting expansion of millet cultivation from the existing 1.79 lakh hectares
to 5 lakh hectares and annual production of 8 lakh metric tonnes by 2047, Dr
Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education
(DARE) and Director General of ICAR, said on Tuesday.
Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day national event on
agro-biodiversity conservation, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable
food systems here, Jat highlighted Odisha's potential to emerge as a national
model for sustainable, climate-resilient and economically viable millet-based
agricultural development.
He lauded the state's Odisha Shree Anna Abhiyan and emphasised the need
to harness its rich agro-biodiversity, particularly millets and other opportunity
crops, to address emerging challenges such as climate change, deteriorating
soil health and nutritional insecurity.
Highlighting the state's achievements in millet procurement, Jat said
Odisha procured 7.5 lakh quintals of ragi during the Kharif Marketing Season
(KMS) 2024-25 and has set a target of 8 lakh quintals for 2025-26.
He also underscored the importance of conserving indigenous millet
diversity, particularly the 163 documented finger millet landraces, while
promoting traditional varieties such as Kalia, Bati, Mami and Bharathi.
Calling for a comprehensive approach to strengthen the millet value
chain, Jat stressed scaling up scientific cultivation practices, encouraging
the production of minor millets such as suan and kangu, and developing
affordable processing machinery to improve farmers' access to value addition.
He also called for strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and
women's self-help groups (SHGs), besides expanding millet-based enterprises and
market linkages with the support of ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research
(ICAR-IIMR), Hyderabad.
Jat further proposed strengthening research collaboration with ICAR-IIMR
and establishing a Centre of Excellence on Millets at Odisha University of
Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) to accelerate research, innovation and
technology transfer.
The two-day national event commenced on November 10 in the presence of
Odisha Governor Braj Mohan Ram, Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and
Farmers' Welfare Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, M S Swaminathan Research
Foundation Chairperson Soumya Swaminathan and Odisha Agriculture and Farmers'
Empowerment Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav.
Eminent agricultural scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders also
attended the inaugural programme.
The inaugural session was followed by visits to exhibition stalls showcasing agricultural innovations, indigenous crop diversity and millet-based products, along with interactions with farmers.
The event seeks to strengthen institutional partnerships, facilitate knowledge exchange and promote collaborative strategies for conserving agro-biodiversity while building resilient food systems and improving farmers' livelihoods.
