Bhubaneswar, Nov 12: The Department of Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment organized a two-day “International Shri Ann and Forgotten Foods Summit” at the Lokseva Bhavan Convention Center today. The event featured a special exhibition on nearly extinct crops and various nutritious grains.
The summit was marked by a discussion on the importance of incorporating traditional foods into modern diets. The Minister emphasized that India’s food and culinary heritage is considered one of the finest globally, and there is a growing need to revive and promote traditional grains like millets.
The Minister highlighted the government’s efforts under Prime Minister Modi’s vision to restore millet cultivation as a national crop. Millets are rich in nutrients and have the potential to significantly improve public health. The government is also working on introducing millets into school meals, ensuring children benefit from their nutritional value.
ଆଜି ଲୋକସେବା ଭବନ କନ୍ଭେନ୍ସନ ସେଣ୍ଟର ଠାରେ କୃଷି ଓ କୃଷକ ସଶକ୍ତିକରଣ ବିଭାଗ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଆୟୋଜିତ ଦୁଇ ଦିନିଆ ‘ଅନ୍ତର୍ଜାତୀୟ ଶ୍ରୀ ଅନ୍ନ ଓ ବିସ୍ମୃତ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ’ର ଉଦଯାପନୀ ସମାରୋହରେ ଯୋଗଦେବା ସହ ବିଲୁପ୍ତ ପ୍ରାୟ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଶସ୍ୟ ଓ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପ୍ରକାର ପୁଷ୍ଟି ଶସ୍ୟ ଉପରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ଏକ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନୀ ବୁଲି ଦେଖିଥିଲି ।
ଆମ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଏବଂ… pic.twitter.com/LSvgPiuDTm— Pravati Parida (@PravatiPOdisha) November 11, 2024
The summit also focused on empowering local farmers by promoting these ancient crops, which not only improve health but also create employment opportunities. The revival of millets, often seen as a staple of traditional diets, is seen as a way to boost rural economies and improve food security.
The event concluded with a call to action for the public to incorporate these nutritious and environmentally sustainable foods into their daily diets, helping to support local agriculture and revitalize forgotten crops.