Millet Day / Mandia Diwas 2026 concludes with focus on natural farming, millet economy

Bhubaneswar, Nov 11: The fifth edition of Mandia Diwas (Millet Day) concluded in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday with a renewed emphasis on natural farming, grassroots innovation and the expansion of Odisha's millet-based economy.

The valedictory session of the two-day convention was held at Mayfair Convention, where Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment, underscored the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, encouraging grassroots-level innovations and strengthening the State's growing millet ecosystem.

Technical Sessions

Three technical sessions marked the concluding day of the event, focusing on sustainable agriculture, innovation and enterprise development.

The first session, organised by the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production, explored the theme, “Natural Farming and Millets: Reviving Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture.” The second session highlighted successful grassroots innovations by farmers and agri-entrepreneurs under the theme, “Pioneers of Grassroots Innovation: Inspiring Success Stories of Farmers and Agri-Entrepreneurs.”

The third session, conducted by the Indian Institute of Millets Research, focused on “Millet-Based Economy of Odisha: Enterprise Development and Market Linkages,” examining opportunities for value addition, entrepreneurship and market expansion.

Book Released

A key highlight of the concluding day was the release of a book titled “Improved Cultivation Practices of Millets.” The publication is expected to serve as a practical guide for farmers and stakeholders by providing insights into improved millet cultivation techniques and management practices.

Stakeholders Felicitated

The valedictory ceremony was attended by Dr. Poma Tudu, Director of Agriculture and Food Production; Subrat Kumar Panda, Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development; and Arun Kumar Behera, Director of IMAGE, among other dignitaries.

Progressive farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and women-led enterprises were felicitated during the closing ceremony for their contributions to millet promotion and agricultural development in Odisha.

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Organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment, the convention was held under the theme “Community-Led Seed System and Agrobiodiversity for Resilient Food Systems.” The event brought together policymakers, agricultural experts, researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs and partner organisations to discuss strategies for strengthening sustainable agriculture and creating new opportunities across the millet value chain.

The organisers said the discussions and exchanges held during the two-day event would contribute to further strengthening Odisha's efforts to promote millets, agrobiodiversity and climate-resilient food systems.