The Food Corporation of India (FCI) this year has set a target to procure 40,000 MT of Ragi, out of which 2,642 metric tonne of finger millet has been lifted so far by FCI from the districts of Koraput and Nabarangpur. The remaining quantity of Ragi will also be soon lifted from tribal-dominated districts that includes: Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur. The government has achieved the feat in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd and the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department.
It is the first time that the Food Corporation of India has procured 2,642 metric tonne of finger millet, also known as Ragi in Odisha. Govt. has procured ragi to distribute the same through the public distribution system. Reportedly in 2024-25 Kharif season, the state government procured 75,000 metric tonnes of Ragi, out of which FCI will lift 40,000 metric tonnes. In this regard, 2,642 metric tonnes of Ragi, locally called Mandia, have been collected from Koraput and Nabarangpur districts. For the unversed, the Centre had declared 2023 as the International Year of Millet to promote the production, consumption and value addition of millet products. Notably, Odisha Government has also initiated various steps to produce more nutritious and quality millets in Odisha under its ‘Shree Anna Abhiyan’.