Shree Anna Abhiyan - Odisha Millet Mission

Why it matters

Helps tribal and rainfed-area farmers grow and sell traditional millets profitably again, with seed support, processing help and guaranteed buyback through Women Self-Help Groups and FPOs.

What you get

Originally launched in 2017 and scaled up under the national Shree Anna (International Year of Millets 2023) push, the Odisha Millet Mission revives millet cultivation in tribal and rainfed regions for nutrition security, climate resilience and farmer income. It has expanded from 30 blocks in 7 districts to over 177 blocks across 30 districts, covering 1,484 villages and 2,44,736 farmers. The mission provides quality millet seeds, training in cultivation and post-harvest processing, processing infrastructure, and assured procurement/market linkage, implemented mainly through Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with NGO support. Millets such as ragi (finger millet), suan (little millet) and mandia are central to the programme, which also supplies millet-based products to the public distribution and school-meal systems within Odisha.

Eligibility criteria

• Small or marginal farmer in a notified Millet Mission block, especially tribal/rainfed areas
• Cultivating or willing to cultivate millets (ragi, suan, mandia, etc.)
• Membership in a Women Self-Help Group or FPO preferred for processing/marketing support

How to apply

1. 1

   Register through the local WSHG/FPO or Agriculture Extension Officer in a notified Millet Mission block

2. 2

   Receive quality seed and cultivation training

3. 3

   Sell produce through the assured procurement/market-linkage arrangement

Documents required

• Land/cultivation record
• WSHG/FPO membership proof (if applicable)
• Bank account details