Union Agriculture Minister Praises Odisha’s Efforts to Preserve and Promote Agricultural Heritage and Shree Anna

• Odisha is the only State to dedicate a day to Millets.
• Odisha is the first State to issue guidelines for the conservation of landraces.

Bhubaneswar, 12 November 2025:The two-day International Symposium on Shree Anna (Millets) and Women Farmers 2025, organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, concluded successfully at the Lokaseva Bhavan Convention Centre on 11th November. The theme of the Symposium was “The Role of Women in Conservation of Agricultural Heritage and Biodiversity.”
The inaugural session was graced by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In his address, Shri Chouhan lauded Odisha’s pioneering initiatives in conserving agricultural heritage and promoting Shree Anna (Millets). He commended Odisha for being the only State to dedicate a specific day as Millet Day (Mandia Dibasa) and for its leadership in enhancing millet production and supplying millets to other States. He further highlighted the remarkable contribution of women farmers in these efforts.

The Union Minister also noted that Odisha is the first State to issue guidelines for the conservation of landraces, as well as guidelines for testing women-centric agricultural machinery. He appreciated the Department’s publication of the Millet Foundation Guide, the first of its kind, which compiles research data and knowledge resources on Shree Anna. (The guide is available online through the provided web link.)

The closing ceremony of the Symposium was graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, marking a successful conclusion to this significant event.