FCI Commences Ragi Procurement in Odisha's Tribal Districts

Bhubaneswar, Aug 21 (PTI) The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has achieved a significant milestone this year by procuring 2,642 metric tonnes of finger millet, commonly known as Ragi, in Odisha for the first time, officials revealed. The FCI has undertaken this procurement to stock the central pool, from where the millets will be distributed via the public distribution system. While the FCI has set an ambitious target of procuring 40,000 metric tonnes of Ragi, it has successfully procured 2,642 metric tonnes from the districts of Koraput and Nabarangpur so far. The remaining quantity will be systematically collected in phases from the tribal-dominated districts of Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Nabarangpur. This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort involving the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment, the Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd., and the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department. During the 2024-25 Kharif season, the state government procured 75,000 metric tonnes of Ragi, out of which FCI will lift 40,000 metric tonnes. To date, 2,642 metric tonnes of Ragi, known locally as Mandia, have been collected from the districts of Koraput and Nabarangpur. The declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millet by the Centre aims to boost the production, consumption, and value addition of millet products. In response, the Odisha state government has launched several initiatives to increase the production of nutritious and high-quality millets under its 'Shree Anna Abhiyan' program.

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