ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar organized a Krishi Mela-cum-Millet Exhibition on 14 March, 2024 at Srirampur village under Balipatna block of Khordha District. The programme was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Padma Shri Bata Krushna Sahoo and presided over by Dr. Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar & Chairperson, KMME-2024. Dr Lipi Das Pr. Scientist of ICAR-CIWA coordinated this programme as a part of the Institute’s Shree Anna Gram Project. At the outset, Dr. A.K. Panda, Head, GF&CS Division of ICAR-CIWA welcomed all the delegates, participants and defined the sole purpose of the programme.

The Director of the Institute, Dr. Mridula Devi delineated the core role of farm women in enhancing the agricultural production and highlighted the different programmes and activities undertaken by the Institute. She motivated the women farmers for enhancing the production of millets and preparation of various millet based products for enriching family nutrition, bringing livelihood security and promoting women entrepreneurship. An Inspirational talk on ‘Shree Anna: The Super and Spiritual Food for Taking India towards Food and Nutritional Security’ was delivered by Er. Sandip Kumar Sen, Director, Sandipan Research Centre, Puri.

The programme was graced by Mr S K Chatterjee, State Head, IFFCO, Bhubaneswar; Er. Sandip Kumar Sen, Director, Sandipan Research Centre, Puri; Mr Brajakishore Swain, Managing Director, Millet More Industry Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar; Dr Harapriya Nayak, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, ICAR-CIFA; Mr. Satya Swaroop Nanda, Head of ODI Nature Agro Food Pvt. LTD., Cuttack; Mr Suresh Kumar Tripathy, Secretary, NIGAM NGO, Bhubaneswar; Mr Haraprasad Pradhan, Chairman, Agrodham; Mrs. Kumudini Swain, Chairperson and Mr. Nimai Charan Nayak, Marketing Head, Maheera Farmer Produce Company Limited; Sarpanch, and Nominee of Panchayat Samiti Sabhya etc.

In this programme an exhibition has also been organized in which various millet-based products and other women friendly technologies in agricultures and allied sectors have been showcased by ten different organizations and more than 450 participants including scientists and staff of ICAR-CIWA, farm women, farmers, Personnel from Line Department, NGOs, FPCLs, media persons etc. participated in the programme. The meeting ended with a formal vote of thanks to all the dignitaries and other stakeholders.The Maheera Farmer Producer Company Limited has actively supported for successful organization of the programme. The programme was successfully coordinated by Dr. Lipi Das, Pr. Scientist, Convener and Ms Gayatri Moharana, Scientist, Co-Convener.