Odisha Gears Up to Expand Millet Mission Under Shree Anna Abhiyan for 2025-26

Bhubaneswar: A high-level review meeting of the Shree Anna Abhiyan, Odisha’s flagship millet revival programme, was held in Bhubaneswar under the chairmanship of Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department. The session focused on finalizing the annual work plan for the financial year 2025–26, with an eye on expanding millet cultivation and deepening its socio-economic impact.

The Shree Anna Abhiyan — which promotes traditional grains like millet, suan, bajra, and kangu — has steadily gained national recognition for reviving indigenous food systems. Once confined to rural diets, these superfoods are now finding their way into five-star hotel menus and celebrity diets, signaling a major shift in perception and market value.

Dr. Padhee emphasized the need to scale up production, enhance post-harvest management, and strengthen marketing and sales channels during the upcoming Kharif season. “Odisha has the potential to emerge as a national hub for Shree Anna. Expanding millet farming not only ensures nutritional security but also generates employment and economically empowers local communities,” he said.

More than just a nutrition mission, Shree Anna Abhiyan is being credited with revitalizing traditional food culture and promoting community integration, particularly in tribal and rainfed regions of the state. The initiative has also aligned itself with climate-resilient agriculture, as millets require less water and are better suited to Odisha’s variable climate.

Senior officials from the Directorate of Agriculture, Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation, and Indian Food Research Institute participated in the meeting. They discussed strengthening farmer producer organizations (FPOs), millet processing units, and expanding public procurement to ensure fair prices for growers.