A two-day International Convention on Millets (ICM 2023) was organized by the Government of Odisha in Bhubaneshwar from 9-10 November 2023. Led by the Odisha Millet Mission of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, the Government of Odisha, ICM 2023 was organized in conjunction with the ongoing International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023. FAO actively participated in the event and supported the Odisha Millet Mission by anchoring four insightful sessions on agro-biodiversity and landraces of millets, seed conservation and exchange, millets and tribes and farmer cultivation practices.

The convention was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik who hailed Odisha as a pioneer in designing a people-centric millet mission with a focus on the livelihoods and nutrition of our tribal communities. Speaking at the inauguration, Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India, congratulated the initiatives of the Government of India and Odisha for spearheading the promotion of millets both in India and globally. “Millets are an integral part of India’s agricultural heritage. The Government of India’s leadership in mainstreaming millets, its production and consumption, open various solutions to addressing global hunger and malnutrition” he added.

With the theme ‘Millets – Ancient Grains for Modern Challenges,’ the ICM 2023 brought together various stakeholders such as smallholder farmers, government officials, policymakers, international organizations, civil society organizations, researchers and academicians.

Speaking at the FAO-anchored session on 'Agro Biodiversity & Landraces of Millets', FAOR called upon the urgent and essential need for farmers to conserve the landraces for future generations to address food insecurity and hunger. The event also witnessed participation from FAO experts from around the globe. Marianna Bicchieri, Land Tenure Officer, FAO RAP, co-chaired the FAO-anchored session on 'Millets and Tribes' and emphasized the important role of gender in millet cultivation and conservation. Millets are not just food; they connect people and culture. During the session on ‘Seeds Conservation’, Dr Arshiya Noorani, FAO, shared her knowledge and insights, and stressed the importance of conserving wild varieties to enrich the gene pool to achieve food security and malnutrition. FAO also brought in the crucial voices of the smallholder farmers during the seed conservation session. Mrs Subash Mohanty, a custodian farmer from Mayurbhanj in FAO's Green-Ag Project shared the importance of ragi farming and seed conservation during the session.

FAO also participated in the session on ‘Policy Roadmap on Millets for the next 10 years’ organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, the Government of Odisha.

ICM 2023 facilitated a platform for interaction and collaboration among various stakeholders. It organized a series of policy round tables, engaging farmers sessions, technical sessions, machinery and technology demonstration, experience centers, business sessions, start-up challenges, millet food festivals, and art and cultural programmes. The Convention most importantly showcased the tribal culture and heritage related to millets, highlighting cultural and anthropological linkages between tribal culture, their knowledge and food systems.     

Other Images:

Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India speaking at the inauguration of the International Convention on Millets 2023. (Image credit: FICCI)

FAO anchored session on ‘Agro-biodiversity and Landraces of Millets’ in progress. (Image credit: FAOIN)