Millet Processing Unit Opens At Odisha’s Keonjhar; Cafe To Come Up Soon – ODISHA BYTES

Keonjhar: At a time when individuals are on the lookout for wholesome alternate options to take care of their weight-reduction plan and preserve illnesses away, ‘mandia’ is working its magic and has made a comeback in Odisha.
Odisha Government has stepped up its efforts in its endeavour to advertise well being and supply natural meals to folks in each district. Under Odisha Millets Mission, the marvel millet has not solely benefitted farmers but additionally supplied a supply of revenue for the ladies working with self-help teams (SHGs).
On Wednesday, a millet processing unit was inaugurated by district collector Ashish Thakare right here.
The first millet processing unit of the districts is being managed by Krushna SHG with assist from Mission Shakti and District Mineral Foundation.
Thakare mentioned the unit has a capability of cleansing about two quintals per hour and may clear over 500 quintals in a month, thus offering a constant supply of livelihood to the SHG. The district’s requirement for mandia now’s round 110 quintals, he added.
The unit will guarantee provide of fresh Ragi for the flagship ICDS Ragi Laddu programme of the district administration.
A cleaned and processed mandia will probably be despatched to all anganwadi centres, mentioned the Collector. “We plan to set up a Mandia Cafe at the collectorate office to promote varieties of snacks and dishes that can be prepared from mandia,” he added.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and  Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN) is offering the technical assist.
Keonjhar district administration had earned laurels from Government of India and Niti Aayog for inclusion of Ragi laddu as morning snacks for pre-school youngsters enrolled below ICDS within the district.
Collector Ashish Thakare interacting with girls on the millets processing unit in Keonjhar cityMore about mandia cultivation in Keonjhar:
Odisha Millets Mission was initiated in Keonjhar district in 2019. Under the five-year programme, mining affected villages of seven blocks within the districts – Banspal, Champua, Joda, Jhumpura, Harichandanpur, Hatadihi and Sadar – had been taken up for mandia cultivation.
More than 4000 farmers have benefitted below numerous parts of the programme. Moreover, after the launch of Ragi procurement at MSP farmers are getting an assured value for Ragi which has boosted the morale of the farmers who typically concern losses from paddy cultivation.
Ragi is getting used for State Nutrition Programmes (ICDS, MDM) and Public Distribution System (PDS).
An space of 1,050 hectares was introduced below millet cultivation in Kharif 2020.
In Rabi 2020, greater than 500 hectares in these seven blocks and can be lined.
TDCCOL, Keonjhar, the district-level procurement company would procure greater than 2,300 quintals of Ragi by March 2021 at Rs 3,295  per quintal below KMS 2020-21 to assist Ragi rising farmers.