Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday stressed on research and development for promoting local food processing sector in Odisha’s Koraput district.

Speaking at 14th Foundation Day function of the Central University of Odisha at its Sunabeda campus through virtual mode, Dharmendra said paddy, mango, ragi, vegetables and especially coffee produced through organic farming in Koraput have entered national market.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his weekly Mann Ki Baat, spoke on promoting millets or ragi. “We have to give priority to millets. The biscuits made from the ragi of Koraput have to be taken to the global market.” he added.