Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Odisha Millets Mission, launched by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha, has been praised by the national policy think tank NITI Aayog for increasing ragi production and giving farmers in the Lamtaput block of Koraput district, Odisha, new opportunities for income. Ragi (finger millet) was primarily grown for household consumption in this area.
The Aspirational Blocks Programme, an innovative project to improve service delivery and citizen quality in India’s most remote and underdeveloped blocks, marked the start of the journey toward transformation. Farmers in the area were encouraged to adopt cutting-edge agronomic techniques under this program.
Knowledge dissemination and support to the farming community were greatly aided by organizations like the Koraput Nari Shakti Farmers Producers Company (KNSFPCL) and PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action). The System of Millet Intensification (SMI) and the promotion of staggered nurseries were important tactics used to lessen the impact of unpredictable rainfall on finger millets.
The farmers’ experiences with the mission’s tangible results demonstrate its success. Increased productivity has made it possible for them to meet their needs for consumption and sell any excess to the market, including the government Mandi, where they can profit from the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Principal Secretary of DA&FE, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee said, “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.”
