Rayagada Ranks 2nd in State Millet Procurement as District Celebrates ‘Mandia Divas’
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, November 7: The district-level Mandia Divas (Millet Day) was celebrated with widespread participation and enthusiasm at the Biju Patnaik Auditorium, organized by the District Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department under the Shree Anna Abhiyan.
Inaugurating the event with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, Chief District Agriculture Officer (CDAO) Nakshatra Mohan Raula delivered the welcome address. Highlighting the district’s agricultural strides, Raula revealed that finger millet (mandia) is currently cultivated across roughly 12,000 hectares in Rayagada. With a procurement of 6,000 metric tonnes last year, the district secured the second spot statewide. He credited this milestone to the effective execution of government welfare schemes, the persistence of grassroots field staff, and active collaboration from local farmers and Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs).
Raula also emphasized the grain’s health profile, noting that mandia is a nutrient-dense powerhouse loaded with protein, dietary fiber, calcium, and essential minerals vital for food and nutritional security. Being a climate-resilient crop, it thrives with minimal water and withstands harsh weather conditions, while expanding market demand and remunerative pricing continue to boost rural farm incomes.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Kadraka Appala Swamy, MLA of Rayagada, urged farmers to adopt modern, scientific cultivation techniques to scale up yield and overall productivity. Commending the critical role played by women farmers in safeguarding indigenous crops and agro-biodiversity, he issued a collective call to integrate millets into every household’s daily diet.’’
The event was attended by Zilla Parishad President Saraswati Majhi as the Guest of Honor, alongside Bissam Cuttack MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka, Koraput MP Representative Sudhir Chandra Panda, and Special Development Council (SDC) Chairperson Bidyadhar Sabar as honorable guests.
Senior officials in attendance included Senior Scientist Dr. Arabinda Das, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr. Mamata Sahu, District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Minati Deo, Sub-Divisional Veterinary Officer (SDVO) Dr. Ashok Kumar Dehera, and Executive Engineer (Agriculture) Swarup Singh Majhi, as well as Assistant Agriculture Officers S.K. Ahesan (Rayagada), Prakash Chandra Behera (Muniguda), and Sujata Nisanka (Gunupur).
Alongside an interactive exhibition and millet food fair showcasing an array of value-added products, the program concluded with the felicitation of high-achieving farmers, SHGs, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) for their exemplary contributions to millet farming in the region.
