Koraput Koraput district has broken a 7-year record in the collection of Mandia (a type of millet) for farmers. The state government has provided a financial incentive of 2 rupees and 10 paise per kilogram for this collection. Due to the encouragement, the collection has reached an all-time high.
As of the current year, a total of 14,574 farmers from the district have collected 2,39,875 quintals of Mandia. The district collector, V. Kirsibhasan, shared this information. He mentioned that with this collection, farmers are becoming self-reliant, securing employment, and giving Mandia a special place in the global market.
For the 2024-2025 financial year, the district administration, along with the TDC, OL & Millet Mission and the government’s “Shri Ann Abhiyan” (food campaign), developed an independent plan for the collection of Mandia from farmers. A direct buying approach was adopted where 14,574 farmers delivered 2,39,875 quintals of Mandia.
The collection was coordinated with 21 agricultural producer societies (APOs) and cooperative societies (LAMPS) operating across 14 regions of the district. Each farmer’s bank account received the payment for the Mandia collected at the rate of 42.90 rupees per kilo under the Government’s incentive plan, totaling 45 rupees per kilo when combined with the state government’s 2 rupees and 90 paise per kilo subsidy.
This year, Koraput district achieved 98.2% of the target, breaking the 7-year record. The district administration, along with the APOs, LAMPS, and Millet Mission, praised the farmers for their efforts. In the Nandapur block, 6 centers were established, and 114,940 quintals of Mandia were collected from 2,382 farmers.
In the Lamataput block, a record was set by collecting 41,000 quintals of Mandia from 2,597 farmers. As per the district administration’s information, during the 2023-2024 period, a total of 1,18,624 quintals of Mandia were collected from 29,969 farmers at the rate of 38.46 rupees per kilo.
Additionally, the state government’s incentives have encouraged farmers to increase their Mandia cultivation. Mandia is now being exported to both domestic and international markets. In the state’s recent nutrition program, Mandia Laddu has been distributed to students, and Mandia-based food products have been provided to beneficiaries of the Women and Child Development Department. The district administration has stated that the collected Mandia will be used for these purposes.