Bhubaneswar: Governor Brajmohan Ram Tuesday urged people, particularly youth, students and government employees, to include Shree Anna (millets) in their daily diet, saying their promotion would benefit public health, farmers and the environment. “Every household should include Mandia, Bajra, Jowar and other millets in its meals.
Adopting healthy food habits is not just about personal well-being but also reflects our respect for farmers and agricultural traditions,” he said while inaugurating the Symposium on Shree Anna and Strengthening of Traditional Seed Systems–2026 in Bhubaneswar. Highlighting the importance of millets in India’s agricultural heritage, the Governor said these crops had been an integral part of traditional food habits for centuries.
In Odisha, particularly in tribal and rain-fed regions, millet cultivation is closely linked to local livelihoods and cultural traditions. Promoting Mandia (Ragi) would help improve farmers’ incomes while preserving this heritage. Referring to climate change, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and water scarcity, he said millets offered a sustainable farming option as they required less water, involved lower cultivation costs and could withstand adverse climatic conditions.
He also highlighted their nutritional value, including high dietary fibre and essential nutrients, saying their regular consumption could encourage healthier food habits amid rising lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
