Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Millets Mission, pioneered by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha, has earned praise from the national policy think tank, NITI Aayog. Recognized for its role in enhancing ragi (finger millet) production and creating new income streams for farmers in Lamtaput block of Koraput district, the mission has achieved notable success in a region where ragi was primarily grown for household consumption.
The inception of this transformative journey dates back to the implementation of the Aspirational Blocks Programme, a visionary initiative designed to improve the quality of life and service delivery in the remotest and less developed blocks across India. As part of this program, farmers in the Lamtaput region were incentivized to adopt innovative agronomic practices.
Key contributors to this success include organizations such as PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action) and the Koraput Nari Shakti Farmers Producers Company (KNSFPCL), which played a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and providing support to the farming community. Strategies employed included promoting staggered nurseries and the System of Millet Intensification (SMI) to counter the impact of erratic rainfall on finger millets.
The mission’s success is evident in the tangible benefits experienced by the farmers. Increased productivity has not only allowed them to meet their consumption needs but also enabled them to sell surplus produce in the market, including government Mandis, taking advantage of the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of DA&FE, remarked, “The recognition from NITI Aayog is a testament to the impactful strides made by the Odisha Millets Mission in transforming the agrarian landscape of Koraput. By fostering a shift towards innovative agricultural techniques, we not only bolstered ragi yields but also empowered local farmers economically. We are committed to further expanding and replicating such initiatives to uplift farmers across the state, fostering resilience and prosperity in the agricultural sector.”
In Lamtaput, the success story unfolded dramatically. In the year 2017-18, the collaborative efforts of 729 farmers led to an exceptional achievement in ragi cultivation on a vast expanse of 174 hectares. The number of participating farmers increased steadily, with 5162 farmers covering 2666.3 hectares in 2023-24.
As a facilitating agency under the Odisha Millets Mission, PRADAN, in collaboration with the Koraput Nari Shakti Farmers Producers Company, achieved significant milestones in Ragi procurement, positively impacting the lives of local farmers. In the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, 894 farmers participated, achieving a procurement of 10,043.76 quintals. This figure rose significantly to 31,718 quintals with the participation of 2,482 farmers during KMS 2022-23.
The commendable success of the Odisha Millets Mission in the district owes much to the support provided by Collector & District Magistrate Abdaal M. Akhtar. His encouragement has played a pivotal role in the mission’s achievements and other initiatives by the Department in the district.