Bhubaneswar: The State Government is observing today, the first Thursday of the Margasira month of the Hindu calendar, as ‘Mandia Divas’ or ‘Millet Day’.
Extending his greetings on the occassion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated, “Let us all resolve to include nutritious and climate-friendly millet in our diet and move forward towards building a sustainable planet, a healthy society and farmers’ well-being by giving it a special place in the food system.”
ମାର୍ଗଶିର ମାସ ପ୍ରଥମ ଗୁରୁବାର, #ମାଣ୍ଡିଆଦିବସ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା। ଆସନ୍ତୁ ସମସ୍ତେ ସଂକଳ୍ପ ନେବା, ଆମ ଖାଦ୍ୟରେ ପୁଷ୍ଟିକର ଓ ଜଳବାୟୁ ଉପଯୋଗୀ ମିଲେଟକୁ ସାମିଲ କରିବା ଏବଂ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାରେ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ସ୍ଥାନ ଦେଇ ଏକ ସୁସ୍ଥ ସମାଜ ସହ ଚାଷୀଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ଓ ଚିରସ୍ଥାୟୀ ପୃଥିବୀ ଗଠନ ଦିଗରେ ଆଗକୁ ବଢ଼ିବା। #MandiaDibasa pic.twitter.com/ABtlLJLYoQ
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) November 10, 2022
Odisha has become the first State to declare a Day dedicated to Millets on November 10. The objective is to popularize and promote the use and cultivation of superfood-millet among the people.
The State government launched Odisha Millet Mission in the year 2017-18. It is a flagship programme of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment.
Initially, Millet Mission was implemented in 30 blocks of seven districts. Now it is being implemented in 142 blocks of 19 districts.
The Odisha Millets Mission has received recognition from many quarters. Not only the Government of India has asked all states to adopt Odisha Millets Mission model for promotion of millets, pulses and oilseeds, UN-IFAD and UN-FAO have supported the framework of Odisha Millets Mission as suitable for taking up agro-ecological initiatives.
