Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In Bhubaneswar, on November 10 and 11, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment will host the International Symposium on Shree Anna & Forgotten Foods (ISSFF) at Lok Seva Bhavan. “Celebrating Shree Anna & Agricultural Heritage of Odisha” is the event’s theme. The two-day event, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, will emphasize the significance of forgotten foods and millets in sustainable agriculture and food security.
In order to combat climate change, promote sustainable farming, and enhance nutrition, forgotten food crops are crucial. These crops are perfect for sustainable agriculture since many of them can withstand pests and droughts. These crops, which thrive in the native environment with little further help, are associated with traditional meals in Odisha.
Speaking to the media We must include millets and other underappreciated foods in our diet, said to KV Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment. By doing this, we can protect Odisha’s agricultural legacy and assist tribal people and last-mile farmers by giving them a means of subsistence and a healthy future.
To develop a roadmap for the promotion of Shree Anna and forgotten foods/neglected crops, the ISSFF 2024 will bring together direct stakeholders, including Women’s Self-Help Groups (WSHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Policymakers, MSMEs, Research organizations, Health institutions, Hotel associations, Chef associations, Bloggers, Students, and others. ISSFF will concentrate on farming communities’ creative and sustainable farming methods, mainstreaming the protection of agro-biodiversity, marketing potential, and policy viewpoints about Shree Anna and forgotten foods/neglected crops.
ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRAN), Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), and others will attend this unique event.
