Odisha State Tribal Museum Unveils Millet Seed Display Unit to Promote Cultural and Nutritional Significance of Millets

The Odisha State Tribal Museum celebrated the inauguration of its new Millet Seed Display Unit, with the honorable presence of Odisha’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain and Minister of ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Jagannath Saraka. Indramani Tripathy, Director of ST and SCSTRTI, ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, presided over the event.

This endeavor is part of the global celebration of the “International Year of Millets” in 2023 and is a collaborative effort between the SCSTRTI and the Odisha Millet Mission. The primary objective of the “Millet Seed Display Unit” is to raise public awareness about the diverse millet landraces cultivated throughout Odisha. Currently, the unit showcases fifty different millet varieties cultivated in various regions of the state.

The “Millet Seed Display Unit” at the Odisha State Tribal Museum serves as a testament to the significant role of millets in the well-being and culture of Odisha’s tribal communities. This initiative not only educates museum visitors about the various aspects of this nutrient-rich grain but also promotes the importance of millets and their deep connection to tribal communities. Some of the featured millet varieties include Finger Millet (Ragi), Little Millet, Foxtail Millet, Kodo Millet, Sorghum (Jowar), and Pearl Millet (Bajra), each offering unique health and nutritional benefits.