Bhubaneswar: In the inaugural ceremony of the International Symposium on Shree Anna and Forgotten Foods’ at Lok Seva Bhavan on 10 November, CM Majhi has promised to create Odisha as the Millet hub of India. Considering the coming Margasira month which is known as the auspicious month for worshipping Goddess Laxmi, CM has requested the women to offer Goddess Laxmi with ragi prasada such as ragi kheer, pitha made of ragi grains and other dishes with ragi or millets this year.
The conference was graced by representatives from United Nations, scientists, researchers, experts, intellectuals, farmers from various districts, and leading women farmers to promote to revive the lost food grains.
This event was organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment and aspires to achieve ample consumption and production millets in Odisha converting the state into a Millet hub in the country. The government has allocated an amount of Rs 649 crore for the upliftment of this farming.
Chief minister has urged the women of the state to use millets as their offerings for Thursday Manabasa Osa ( a special ritual done during every Thursday during the month of November -December to worship Goddess Laxmi at home) .
Agriculture, farming and nutrition have been an inseparable part of our tribal culture and heritage since time immemorial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has coined the term ‘Shree Anna’ considering the importance of the rich cultural aspects associated with food and nutritions. The production and intake of Millet as a nutrient rich food grain has been very old traditional food natively known as ‘Mandia’, a climate resilient crop, explained by CM Majhi.
Millet is a super food, very much recommended for current times diet freak lifestyles as it is gluten free, high in antioxidants, and have a low glycemic index, helps to prevent diabetes and manage blood sugar. It also combat cancer, anemia, and vitamin B deficiency, etc. The farmers who cultivate Shree Anna get enough support from the government to increase production and promoting its inclusion in daily diets. To make this idea far reaching CM suggests the food bloggers to show innovative recipes on millet.
Shree Anna cultivation, started in Koraput district of Odisha, has revolutionized the country, as presently Odisha alone cultivates in approximately 177 blocks. Bajra, Jowar, and Millet being the most popular food grains among the fourteen widely used ones in the country, stressed by the CM. Millet is the highest produced crop in Odisha across India.
-OdishaAge
