Bhubaneswar: Sustainable Millet production was emphasised in a session dedicated to ‘Enhancing Millet Production and Productivity through Scientific Approaches’ as part of the technical deliberations held during two-day International Convention on Millets here.
Organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, the session gathered thought leaders, researchers, and local champions in an impassioned exploration of sustainable millet production.
Chaired by Dr B Venkatesh Bhat, Principal Scientist at IIMR, and co-chaired by Dr Sangram Keshari Swain, Dean of Research at OUAT, the focus was on augmenting millet production while safeguarding nutrition and livelihoods.
Esteemed panelists, including Madhusmita Satpathy, ADA, Khordha, Dr Rajendra R Chapke of IIMR, Binu Cherian from Harvest Plus, along with local champions Damayanti Rana and Ajit Kumar Sahu, shared invaluable insights, experiences, and the challenges and opportunities within the millet farming landscape, captivating a diverse audience representing various sectors of agriculture.
The session emphatically emphasised strategic approaches, leveraging cutting-edge
modern production technologies to magnify millet production. It ignited a robust discourse on sustainable, cost-effective solutions crucial for ensuring nutritional security and sustaining livelihoods through millet cultivation.
Real-life anecdotes from farmers and community leaders underlined the practical potential and proven success achievable in the field, shedding light on actual challenges and opportunities within the domain of millet cultivation.
The session also delivered crucial insights into elevating millet production by integrating advanced modern technologies and promoting sustainable agricultural practices through the implementation of bio-fortified millets.
Stakeholders, particularly fellow farmers, shared their authentic ground-level experiences in the journey of millet cultivation, production, and consumption.
These narratives aimed to captivate the audience, revealing immense potential and possibilities within the realm of millet farming.
