KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced a Rs 100 crore package for the ongoing Odisha Millets Mission programme to promote the millet-growing farmers and simultaneously improve nutrition security in the rain-deficit tribal-dominated districts of the state. The money will be spent during the next year which will benefit about 5 lakh farmers.
“Millets are an integral part of tribal livelihood. It’s being a staple diet to the tribals of Odisha since time immemorial. Millets are grown mostly in rain-deficit areas by small and marginal farmers,” said Patnaik while speaking to the reporters at the state Secretariat.
“State government is already implementing a pilot programme named ‘Odisha Millets Mission’. To provide remunerative price to the millet growing farmers and improve nutritional security, the government will procure millets and utilize in various schemes,” he added.
Currently, the Odisha Millets Mission is being implemented in 30 blocks of seven districts – Nuapara, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Malkangiri. The government is now mulling over to implement it in 55 blocks in 11 districts.
Ms Kalinga