Advancing Odisha’s Millet Mission: A Science-Policy Workshop Highlighting Transformative Pathways
ICRISAT experts collaborate with OUAT and the Government of Odisha to mainstream millets in the state.
ICRISAT, in partnership with the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), organized a Science-Policy Workshop on Advancing the Mainstreaming of Millets into Agri-food Systems in Odisha: Learnings, Insights, and Way Forward. The workshop was held in Bhubaneswar on 26 December 2024 under the aegis of the CGIAR National Policies and Strategies Initiative.
Focused on strengthening efforts to mainstream millets, the meeting attracted participation from researchers, policymakers, and representatives from Odisha's millet value chain. Participants explored various aspects of the millet value chain, including enhancing production and farmer capacity, market development and value addition, consumer awareness, and demand creation.
In his keynote address, Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary of Agriculture, Government of Odisha, highlighted the state's achievements in mainstreaming millets:
"Odisha may not produce millets in large quantities, but our model exemplifies inclusivity and stands as a blueprint for sustainable millet farming across the world," Dr Padhee shared. "Our approach empowers the smallholder tribal farmers who cultivate millet in the rain-fed regions. We focus on supporting the last-mile farmers who are the custodians of millet seeds, ensuring equality and justice throughout the value chain."
Dr Shalander Kumar, Deputy Global Research Program Director for Enabling Systems Transformation at ICRISAT; and Dr Abhishek Das, Agricultural Economist at ICRISAT, presented key findings from the Millet Value Chain study in Odisha conducted by ICRISAT.
The presentation highlighted how Odisha’s efforts with millets have led to significant behavioral changes across the value chain. It also emphasized the need for continuous intervention and a holistic approach that encourages public-private partnerships, ag-tech startups, women’s SHGs, farmers' organization linkages, and sustainable business models as critical components moving forward.
"ICRISAT's comprehensive study of the millet value chain across nine Indian states, including Odisha, examines key areas such as production, processing, trading, and consumption. This research serves as a valuable resource and it is highly commendable that these findings are being effectively incorporated into the state's planning process to shape future strategies," stated Dr Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim, ICRISAT.
Workshop participants brainstormed and suggested various context-specific strategies for improving farmers' access to seed, small farm mechanization, institutional innovations, and policy support for ensuring consistent supply, steady demand, and sustainable business models.
Women’s Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) and small-scale processors need greater support in certifying value-added products, market linkages, and advanced technologies. Regular integration of millet into Public Distribution Systems (PDS) and school nutrition programs was considered critical for creating demand and sustained behavior change among consumers.
Dr Pravat Kumar Roul, Vice Chancellor of OUAT, praised the Odisha Millet Mission (Shree Anna Abhiyan) for its remarkable success, highlighting significant achievements in expanding cultivation areas, increasing production, and boosting yields.
"What was once considered food for the poor has now become a staple in urban diets. It is time to take this initiative to the next level, shifting focus from merely increasing millet production to addressing the entire value chain, considering factors such as employment, economic impact, and the nutritional benefits of millets," stated Dr Pravat Kumar Roul.
The workshop concluded with actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders, focusing on scaling production, enhancing market linkages, and driving behavioral change among consumers.
The meeting reaffirmed millets as a critical lever for Odisha's achievement of sustainable agriculture, improved nutrition, and resilience against climate change.
This work aligns with SDGs 3, 2 and 17.
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