Bhubaneswar: Natural farming, grassroots innovation and the expansion of Odisha’s millet-based economy took centre stage as the fifth edition of Mandia Diwas (Millet Day) concluded Wednesday.
The concluding day of the two-day convention witnessed deliberations on sustainable agricultural practices, traditional farming knowledge and opportunities for strengthening the millet value chain.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav attended the event and underscored the importance of promoting natural farming and encouraging innovations at the grassroots level to strengthen Odisha’s millet economy.
Three technical sessions were organised as part of the concluding-day proceedings.
The first, titled ‘Natural Farming and Millets: Reviving Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture’, explored the relevance of traditional agricultural practices in building sustainable farming systems.
Another session, ‘Pioneers of Grassroots Innovation: Inspiring Success Stories of Farmers and Agri-Entrepreneurs’, highlighted the initiatives and experiences of farmers and entrepreneurs driving innovation in the agricultural sector.
The third session, conducted by the Indian Institute of Millets Research, focused on the economic potential of millets, enterprise development and strengthening market linkages in Odisha.
A key highlight was the release of a book titled ‘Improved Cultivation Practices of Millets’, aimed at providing farmers and other stakeholders with practical guidance on better cultivation techniques.
During the valedictory ceremony, progressive farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and women-led enterprises were felicitated for their contributions to millet promotion and agricultural development in the state.
The event was attended by Director of Agriculture and Food Production Dr Poma Tudu, Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development Subrat Kumar Panda, and Director of IMAGE Arun Kumar Behera, among others.
Organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, the two-day convention was themed ‘Community-Led Seed System and Agrobiodiversity for Resilient Food Systems’.
It brought together policymakers, agricultural experts, researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs and partner organisations to deliberate on strengthening sustainable agriculture, conserving agricultural biodiversity and creating new livelihood and market opportunities through millet-based enterprises.
