Saraguda Village Hosts ‘Food Fair’ Promoting Shree Anna Abhiyan

Nabarangpur, 25th Oct 2025:  A grand ‘Food Fair’ under the Shree Anna Abhiyan was organized at Saraguda village under Koilari Gram Panchayat of Dabugam Block, Nabarangpur district, by the Democratic Aavon NGO.

The event was chaired by A.B.P.C. Sasmita Balabantray, with Agricultural Officer Suches Dhala as the chief guest, and Child Development Project Officer Minati Dash, Anganwadi Supervisor Saira Banti, Agriculture Demonstrator Sushant Raut, Mamta Sahu, Director of Democratic Aavon NGO Sushant Gagdha, and Dabugam Block Coordinator Naveen Mahuria as distinguished guests on the dais.

Before the formal inauguration, the guests lit the ceremonial lamp, broke coconuts, and cut the ribbon to open the food fair.

The chief guest, in her address, encouraged farmers to cultivate millets (ragi/mandia) and informed them about the benefits and incentives provided by the government for millet cultivation. She discussed in detail how farmers can earn profits by growing millet with government support.

Guest speaker Mrs. Dash elaborated on the health benefits of consuming millet-based foods. She emphasized that millet-based diets—such as mandia pakudi (fritters), bara (savory cakes), kalara (snacks), gua kheer (sweet porridge)—keep the body healthy and strong.

More than ten SHGs (Self-Help Groups) from Koilari, Sabhaguda, and Jhaliaguda villages, along with local farmers and villagers, actively participated in the food fair. All attendees enjoyed tasting the delicious millet-based dishes and expressed great satisfaction.

Participants including Anish, Alok, and others supported in organizing the event, while the Democratic Aavon NGO team shared information about government schemes for millet cultivation, nutritional benefits, and health advantages of millet-based food.

They also announced that the government would provide machines for processing and cleaning millets in Saraguda village. Through proper cultivation and marketing, farmers could earn a minimum profit of ₹5,000 per quintal of millet this year. The organizers advised everyone to adopt millet farming and to lead a healthy, disease-free life through nutritious eating habits.

The program was beautifully conducted by A.B.P.C. Sasmita Balabantray, and at the end, Dabugam Block Coordinator Naveen Mahuria delivered the vote of thanks, formally concluding the food fair.