Bhubaneswar,22nd Aug 2025:The demand for Mandia (finger millet) has increased in Odisha. The Mandia produced in the state is now being sought not only within India but also internationally.
For the first phase, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has procured 2,642 metric tons of Mandia from the state, which is rich in nutrients. The FCI plans to procure a total of 40,000 metric tons from Odisha under the central procurement system. These stocks will be distributed to beneficiaries of various government schemes through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Out of the 40,000 metric tons, 16,080 metric tons have been allocated for Andhra Pradesh. In the first phase, the 2,642 metric tons were procured specifically from Koraput and Nabarangpur districts through FCI. This initiative is a joint effort of the Agriculture Department, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department, Tribal Development Department, and cooperative societies.
For context, during the 2014-15 Kharif season, over 64,000 farmers in Odisha supplied more than 19,000 metric tons of Mandia. Out of this, FCI agreed to procure 40,000 metric tons. Under the “Shree Anna Abhiyan” scheme, the state government has also taken steps to increase the production of high-quality Mandia to meet rising demand.