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Odisha hosts national event on agro-biodiversity and climate-resilient agriculture
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Thursday, 12 November, 2026, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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A two-day national event focusing on agro-biodiversity conservation, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems commenced in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on November 10, 2026. The event brought together policymakers, agricultural scientists, researchers and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening sustainable agriculture, conserving indigenous crop diversity and promoting millet-based food systems.
The inaugural session was attended by Braj Mohan Ram, Governor of Odisha; Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Minister for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of Odisha; Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation; and Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment, Government of Odisha, among other dignitaries.
The inaugural programme was followed by visits to exhibition stalls showcasing agricultural innovations, indigenous crop diversity and millet-based products. The dignitaries also interacted with farmers to understand developments and opportunities in sustainable agricultural practices.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Jat highlighted the potential of Odisha's rich agro-biodiversity, particularly opportunity crops such as millets, in addressing challenges related to climate change, soil health and nutrition. He emphasised the need to strengthen local food systems as part of an integrated One Health approach.
He also appreciated the progress of the Odisha Shree Anna Abhiyan and highlighted its potential as a model for millet-based agricultural transformation. He stressed the need to expand millet cultivation in the state from the existing 1.79 lakh hectares to five lakh hectares by 2047, with a targeted production of eight lakh metric tonnes.
Highlighting the state's progress in millet procurement, Dr Jat noted that Odisha procured 7.5 lakh quintals of ragi during the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25, against a target of eight lakh quintals for 2025-26. He also underlined the importance of conserving indigenous millet diversity, particularly the 163 documented finger millet landraces, and promoting traditional varieties such as Kalia, Bati, Mami and Bharathi.
Further, he called for scaling up scientific cultivation practices, promoting minor millets such as suan and kangu, and developing affordable processing machinery to strengthen the millet value chain. He also emphasised the role of farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and women's self-help groups (SHGs) in expanding millet-based enterprises and improving market linkages, with support from ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad.
Dr Jat also proposed strengthening research collaboration between ICAR-IIMR and Odisha and establishing a Centre of Excellence on Millets at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.
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