Bhubaneswar: September 12: The High Power Committee Meeting on Odisha Millets
Mission was held under the Chairmanship of DC cum ACS Suresh Chandra
Mahapatra, at the conference hall of Planning & Convergence Department, Loka Seva
Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.
The Meeting was attended by Agriculture Production Commissioner,
Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, Principal Secretary, DAFE, Dr Saurabh Garg. Among others,
Principal Secretary, ST & SC Development Ranjana Chopra; Commissioner cum
Secretary FS & CW, Cooperation Vir Vikram Jadav; , Director of Agriculture & Food
Production, Dr M Muthukumar and MD TDCCOL SR Jadhav were present.
The committee discussed on various aspects on Millets Mission and how to
strengthen the scheme across the state. Following the PDS distribution of Ragi in 7
districts procured during 2018-19 a survey to be conducted to get the feedback from the
people. Integration with Different government programs to increase millet
consumption, Market linkage with bigger agency for sustainability of Millet Cultivation
was some of the points raised in the meeting.
Suresh Mahapatra, DC cum ACS emphasized on creating market linkage for
millets through ORMAS and has an online marketing platform. He also asked to enhance
the consumption habit of the stakeholders for ragi.
Pradipta Mohapatra, APC suggested to have common procurement center
for Paddy and Millets, if not possible then to create sub procurement center nearby.
This year the state govt has proposed to procure 1 lakh quintal ragi from Kharif
produce. The ragi Ladoos will also be a part of children in anganwadis. The committee
also proposed to add millets in the mid-day meal in districts covered under DMF.
The National Conference on Nutri Cereal will be held on world food day at Krushibhawan, Bhubaneswar
Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas of Odisha (Odisha
Millets Mission) was launched by Govt of Odisha in 2017-18 in 30 blocks of 7 districts. It
was extended to 72 blocks in 2018-19 covering 14 districts. Programme in 65 blocks of
13 districts is funded under State Plan. 7 blocks of Keonjhar district are funded through
District Mineral Fund. Govt. of India advised all states to adopt OMM model. GoI set up
a task force (Under JS Crops, DAC, MoA) to revise NFSM Nutri Cereals guidelines as per
OMM. Niti Aayog to promote OMM model on inclusion of millets in ICDS, MDM and
PDS.
