Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: A two day national event on agro-biodiversity conservation, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems was commenced on 10th November 2026 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in the presence of Shri Braj Mohan Ram, Governor of Odisha, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Minister for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of Odisha, Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation; and Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, along with eminent agricultural scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders.
The inaugural session marked the formal commencement of event, followed by visit to exhibition stalls and display of agricultural innovations, indigenous crop diversity, millet-based products and interaction with farmers.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Jat emphasised on use of rich agrobiodiversity of Odisha through a greater focus on opportunity crops including millets to address the grand challenges of climate change, soil health, nutrition etc while promoting local food system for one health.
Dr. Jat, also highlighted the success of Odisha Shree Anna Abhiyan and its potential to emerge as a national model for millet-based agricultural transformation. He stressed on the area expansion of millet cultivation from 1.79 lakh ha to 5 lakh ha by 2047 with a production target of 8 lakh metric tonnes. The state achievement in ragi procurement, with 7.5 lakh quintals during KMS 2024-25 and a target of 8 lakh quintals for 2025-26 and importance of conserving indigenous millet diversity, particularly the 163 documented finger millet landraces, and promoting traditional varieties such as Kalia, Bati, Mami and Bharathi were appreciated.
Further, Dr. Jat discussed on scaling up scientific cultivation practices, promoting minor millets such as suan and kangu, developing affordable processing machinery, strengthening FPOs and women’s SHGs, and expanding millet-based enterprises and market linkages through ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad. He also proposed about the strengthening research collaboration between ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad and for establishment of Centre of Excellence on Millets at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.
The event aimed to strengthen institutional partnerships, promote knowledge exchange and accelerate Odisha’s journey towards sustainable, climate-resilient and economically viable millet-based agricultural development.
