Bhubaneswar, Sep 6: A state-level steering committee in connection with holding of International Convention of Millets was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena on Tuesday.
The said convention is scheduled to be held on November 9 and 10 at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar. Development Commissioner and ACS Anu Garg and other senior officials participated in the discussion.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared November 19 as Mandia Divas(Millet Day) with a view to promote millet production in Odisha and approved a plan of action for OMM-IYOM Framework, IYM Activities and holding of International Convention on November 10.
The details regarding activities under OMM and plan for holding of IYoM, its objectives, design and proposed collaborating organizations and day wise schedule of the International convention have been discussed in the meeting.
The main objective of the conference is to increase the household consumption of millets, revalorization of millet food culture in urban and rural areas, conservation and promotion of millet landraces through seed system of landraces, promotion of post-harvest and primary processing enterprises , improving productivity of millets –based crop systems, promotion of value addition enterprises in rural and urban areas, inclusion of millets in PDS, ICDS, MDM, welfare hostels etc and facilitating the markets and exports of millet-based products.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need to focus on the latest research in the field of millet production, farming practices, value added production and to ensure that the conference to be held will be of international standard.
The convention will encourage the marketing and export of millet-based products, including measures to include the use of millet food in the public distribution system, ICDS, mid-day meals and hostels.
The conference will also help in linking millets with sports and incorporating millets in all sports hostels, engaging schools, hotels, hospitals, celebrities in the use and promotion of millets, linking millets and green investments, re-exploring investments in the Odisha Millet Mission.
Millet Shakti Cafes have been opened in major cities and district headquarters with value added use of millet based products through Mission Shakti SHGs. Breakfast and snacks are being served at the millet tiffin centres within the block towns. At the district and city level, mobile sales units are selling dry and value-added products.
Odisha Millets Mission is now expanded to 177 blocks covering 30 districts from 143 blocks in 19 districts. Odisha Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister has approved expansion of OMM from 2023-24 to 2026-27.
