Bhubaneswar, (Last updated) Sep 7 : The International Convention of Millets (ICM) scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar on November 9 and 10 next will encourage the marketing and export of millet-based products.
The international conference, to be organised in collaboration with various affiliates like FICCI alongwith multi stakeholders will focus on revival of milet food culture and promoting its cultivation
The convention will have two days of interactive sessions, G2B and B2B meetings to discuss leadership and facilitation to promote Odisha Millet Mission and Millet Shakti.
The convention will showcase the success stories of farmers, women self-help groups and other stakeholders of the Odisha Millet Mission. This will facilitate market linkages between companies, MSMEs, FPOs, WSHGs for millet based products.
It will deliberate on the use of millet food in the public distribution system, ICDS, mid-day meals and, hostels, Official sources here on Wednesday said
The conference will also help in linking millets with sports and incorporating millets in all sports hostels, engaging schools, hotels, hospitals, celebrities in the use and promotion of millets, linking millets and green investments, re-exploring investments in the Odisha Millet Mission.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already declared November 10,2022 as Mandia Divas(Millet Day) with a view to promote millet production in Odisha and approved a plan of action for OMM-IYOM Framework, IYM Activities.
A State Level Steering Committee in connection with holding of International Convention of Millets under the chairmanship of state Chief Secretary P K Jena held here on Tuesday discussed the activities under OMM and plan for holding of convention ,its objectives, design and proposed collaborating organizations and day wise schedule of International convention.
The main objective of the conference, Jena said, is to increase the household consumption of millets, revalorization of millet food culture in urban and rural areas and conservation and promotion of millet landraces through the seed system of landraces.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need to focus on the latest research in the field of Millet production, farming practices, value added production and to ensure that the conference to be held will be of international standard.
Millet Shakti Cafes/Outlets have been opened in major cities and district headquarters in Odisha with value added use of millet based products through Mission Shakti SHGs.
Official sources said the Odisha Millets Mission is now expanded to 177 blocks covering 30 districts from 143 blocks in 19 districts.
The Technology demonstrations were carried out in 79000 hectares in 2022-23 covering 1.72 Lakh farmers.The target is set for 1.5 Lakh hectares covering more than 2.2 Lakh farmers For FY 2023-24,.
Odisha is also the first State to initiate benchmarking exercise of little millet and foxtail millets for better marketing.
More than 1500 WSHGs are involved in different value chain activities. 262 Custom Hiring Centres/Community Managed Seed Centres, 684 numbers of threshing units, 43 Ragi Cleaner- cum-Grader-cum-Destoner units, 778 Multi grain Pulverizer Units, 2 Integrated Minor Millet Processing units are managed by the FPOs and WSHGs.