The Agriculture Department will host an International Symposium on Shree Anna & Forgotten Foods (ISSFF) on November 10-11 at Lok Seva Bhavan. The theme, Celebrating Shree Anna & Odisha’s Agricultural Heritage, focuses on millets and other forgotten crops as vital for food security and sustainable farming.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate the event, which will highlight how millets and other resilient crops support climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and better nutrition. These crops are well-suited to Odisha’s environment, needing minimal resources to thrive, linking deeply to local traditions and food security.
Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singh Deo emphasized, "Adding millets and forgotten foods to our diet helps preserve Odisha’s agricultural heritage, improves health, and supports farmers and tribal communities."
ISSFF 2024 will bring together Women’s Self-Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organizations, policymakers, MSMEs, health institutions, chefs, bloggers, and students to create a roadmap for promoting Shree Anna (millet) and forgotten foods.
The symposium will cover sustainable farming, agro-biodiversity, and market opportunities for neglected crops. High-level delegates from national and international organizations, including FAO, WFP, and ICMR, will attend. Eleven sessions will explore millet cultivation, processing, export potential, and the challenges facing forgotten foods.
In addition to sessions, nine stalls will display a variety of millets, seeds, and innovative farm tools, providing hands-on learning about traditional and modern practices in agriculture.
Awards will honor the Best Millet Farmer, Best Custodian Farmer, Best FPO, and top-performing Self-Help Groups. Women preserving traditional recipes will receive special recognition for their role in Odisha’s culinary heritage.
Odisha, the first state to host such an event, has led the promotion of millets through its Shree Anna Abhiyan, making it a model for the country as recognized by NITI Aayog and WFP. This initiative and a renewed focus on forgotten foods aim to bring further achievements to Odisha’s agricultural progress.
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