Bhubaneswar: A high-level preparatory meeting was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo at Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar today.
Odisha is the only state to celebrate Mandia Divas. Every year, 10th November is celebrated as International Day of Millet. This year too, International Symposium on Millet will be celebrated for two days on 10th and 11th November.
“Women in Agro-Biodiversity and Heritage” is the theme of the year. Like last year, various sessions will be conducted by distinguished scientists, eminent personalities.
Odisha has set an example for the entire country in the production, consumption and conservation of small & little millets and forgotten foods.
Recently, FCI has lifted Millet from the state and is gradually lift of 40,000 Metric Tonnes of Millet from Odisha alone.
This year gathering will be attended by more than 400 farmers, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairman of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, scientists from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, women scientists from the World Food Program, ICAR, ICAR-CIWA, many renowned scientists and officials from the country and abroad.
In the preparatory meeting, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, presented the details of the program and informed about the upcoming roadmap of the department.
Director Agriculture Shubham Saxena, Director Soil Conservation and Watershed Subrat Kumar Panda, Financial Advisor, Additional Secretary were present and provided their thoughtful suggestions during the meeting.
