The Odisha Government’s much-touted Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) launched in 2017 may go global soon with the World Food Programme identifying it as one of the best practices that can be replicated in other States in India and other countries in Africa as part of South-South collaboration.

Back home, it recently added yet another feather in its cap with the UNDP and Niti Aayog  hailing it as ‘Model of Millets in India.’ It has been included in the compendium ‘Best practices in social sector: A compendium, 2023” jointly prepared by the UN body and the country’s top think tank. The document was released recently.

The Compendium also notes that “World Food Programme identified OMM as one of the best practices that can be replicated in other states and other countries in Africa as part of South-South Collaboration.”

The OMM, which was launched with an aim to revive millets on farms and plates, simultaneously focusing  on production, processing, consumption, marketing and inclusion of millets in government schemes, was initiated in 30 blocks covering 7 districts in 2017,  then extended to 84 blocks covering 15 districts by 2021.

This is further scaled up to 143 blocks in 2022 covering 19 districts, reaching out to 1.18 Lakh farmers covering 54,495 hectare.

Tribal development Cooperative Corporation Ltd has been chosen as nodal procurement agency which partners with Farmers Produce Organisations (FPOs) and Women Self Help Groups) to procure finger millet (ragi) to be distributed in PDS and ICDS. Involvement of WSHGs and FPOs which are considered to be the backbone of any rural economy make the OMM fit for the case for being a game changer in the social sector.