Government lauds Odisha’s leadership as India advances millet-movement at ‘Mandia Dibasa’

Bhubaneswar, 10 November 2025 – At the ‘Mandia Dibasa’ celebration held in Bhubaneswar, the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, emphasised that this event is not merely a day of commemoration but a campaign to elevate millets into a people’s movement.

He congratulated the Government of Odisha for converting the vision of “Shree Anna” into action, stating that many spoke of the idea, but Odisha brought it to the ground. Shri Chouhan underscored that millets represent nutrition, water-conservation, environmental care and sustainability for future generations. He pointed out that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, millets have achieved global recognition and the moment is ripe for India to scale up its millet mission across states. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, remarked that millets reflect both Odisha’s heritage and its future, acknowledging the pivotal role of women-farmers in the millet push.

The minister’s remarks come at a time when the Government is seeking to diversify crop portfolios, reduce reliance on water-intensive cereals and strengthen the nutritional security of the country. By focusing on millets — considered “Shree Anna” in recognition of their significance — the effort aims to engage farming communities, leverage state-level success stories and drive sustainable agriculture in the face of climate uncertainty.

The Mandia Dibasa celebration represents a visible marker of this shift, highlighting how state-government initiatives can help convert national policy ambitions into grassroots change. Odisha’s example — from promoting millet cultivation to ensuring its presence in mid-day meals and leveraging women-farmers as change agents — is being held out as a model for other states to replicate. As the country pursues the goal of resilient agriculture, the minister’s message was clear: the time for millets has come.