Odisha Focuses on Natural Farming and Millet-Based Enterprises at Mandia Dibasa

Bhubaneswar: Natural farming, grassroots innovation and enterprise development took centre stage on the concluding day of the fifth edition of Mandia Dibasa (Millet Day), held at Mayfair Convention in Bhubaneswar.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, attended the event and highlighted the need to promote sustainable farming practices, encourage farmer-led innovations and expand Odisha’s millet economy.

Three technical sessions were organised on the second day, focusing on traditional farming knowledge, grassroots innovations and market opportunities in the millet sector.

The first session, titled ‘Natural Farming and Millets: Reviving Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture’, was organised by the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production. It was followed by a session on ‘Pioneers of Grassroots Innovation: Inspiring Success Stories of Farmers and Agri-Entrepreneurs’, which highlighted initiatives and experiences from the field.

The third session, conducted by the Indian Institute of Millets Research, focused on ‘Millet-Based Economy of Odisha: Enterprise Development and Market Linkages’. Discussions centred on opportunities to strengthen millet-based enterprises and improve market access for farmers and entrepreneurs.

A key highlight of the concluding day was the release of the book ‘Improved Cultivation Practices of Millets’. The publication is expected to provide farmers and other stakeholders with practical guidance on improved millet cultivation methods.

During the valedictory session, progressive farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and women-led enterprises were felicitated for their contributions to millet promotion and agricultural development in Odisha.

The session 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 held around the theme ‘Community-Led Seed System and Agrobiodiversity for Resilient Food Systems’. It brought together policymakers, agricultural experts, researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs and partner organisations to discuss sustainable agriculture, conservation of agrobiodiversity and opportunities across the millet value chain.