Ranchi Celebrates World Food Day with Millet Fest, Promoting Sustainable Eating

On the occasion of World Food Day, the city of Ranchi hosted a vibrant “Millet Fest 2025” at the Institute of Hotel Management, Ranchi in collaboration with Milli Life Naturals Ltd and Startup Jharkhand, emphasising both nutritious diets and sustainable agriculture. The event was inaugurated by Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Jharkhand’s Agriculture Minister, who underlined the critical role of farmers and the growing importance of millets in modern food systems. She encouraged the establishment of a dedicated millet café and urged attendees to integrate millet-based meals into their daily consumption, highlighting the nutritional depth and eco-friendly attributes of these ancient grains.

Millets are increasingly recognised not just as heritage crops but as a strategic response to current challenges — including food security, climate resilience and diversification of farm incomes. At the fest, speakers such as NABARD’s Gaurav Kumar detailed financing, training and market-linkage support for millet cultivation and value-addition, signalling strong institutional backing for this shift. The principal of the institute, Bhupesh Kumar, pointed out the surge in millet (madua) farming across Jharkhand, reinforcing IHM Ranchi’s commitment to promoting indigenous grains, local food culture and global outreach for root-level agriculture innovation.

“The concept of society is incomplete without farmers,” said Minister Tirkey, reminding the audience of the human backbone behind the food on our plates. Her message resonated in a venue packed with stakeholders – progressive farmers sharing success stories of transitioning to millet cultivation, young entrepreneurs showcasing value-added millet products, and nutrition experts explaining how millets deliver high fibre, minerals and plant-based protein while demanding less water and resilience in difficult growing conditions.

By mounting Millet Fest 2025, Ranchi not only celebrated World Food Day but also positioned itself on the map for sustainable food systems that honour both health and environment. For consumers, the event served as an invitation to rethink everyday meals – replacing refined staples with nutrient-rich alternatives. For farmers and agripreneurs, it opened avenues in the value chain, hinting at cafés, branded packaged millet foods and market opportunities around these resilient crops. This integrative approach — connecting agriculture, nutrition, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability — marks a timely milestone in Jharkhand’s food journey, and showcases how regional efforts align with national and global targets around nutrition, biodiversity and climate action.

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