Raipur: While inaugurating the three-day long ‘Millet Carnival’ organized at Subhash Stadium in the capital Raipur on Friday, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that millets should be included in the mid-day meal program for children in schools to provide them healthy food ,this will also promote the superfood millet. Due to this,the children across the country will get nutritious food and there will be no problem of the availability of market for millets and the millet producing farmers will also be benefited.
He added that the year 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets to promote the production of millets and create public awareness about the nutrients they provide. Chhattisgarh is already ahead in terms of production, processing and marketing of millets and is slowly emerging as a millets hub. Today, when the area under millets crops is shrinking all over the world, its area is increasing in our state. Earlier millets were cultivated in 70,000 hectare area, now this area has increased to 1.65 lakh hectare.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that mainly Kodo, Kutki and Ragi have been cultivated under millets in Chhattisgarh. He said that Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to declare the support price of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi and make purchases at the support price. Chhattisgarh has gone ahead in the matter of millets processing as well. The country’s largest millet processing plant has been set up at Nathia Navagaon in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, in which 22 types of products are being prepared. Thousands of women got employment through the production of millets, collection and processing through women self-help groups and vandhan samitis. The attraction of farmers towards the cultivation of millets has also increased due to increment in their incomes.
Representatives of GoI appreciated Chhattisgarh Millet Mission
In the launch ceremony, Appreciating Chhattisgarh’s Millet Mission, C.E.O of Millets Research Institute, Govt of India, NutriHub, Dr. B. Daykar Rao said that the work of Millet Mission in Chhattisgarh is commendable. Looking at the work done in Chhattisgarh in the field of Millets till now, it can be said that the future of Millets Mission in Chhattisgarh is bright.
Laptops distributed to women self-help groups
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel distributed laptops to Sarita Nishad of Charkha women’s self-help group and Saroj Patel of Katghora’s Harbol self-help group, who produce brooms and herbal medicines in Narayanpur. In today’s program, laptops were distributed to 12 groups in collaboration with Crop Stage. The Chief Minister also released the coffee table book published by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association in the program.
7 states participated in the carnival
In his address,Principal Secretary Forest Manoj Kumar Pingua said that the carnival has been organized under the joint aegis of Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association and IIMR Hyderabad. He informed that 49 stalls have been set up, out of which 25 are from Chhattisgarh and 24 from other states. Representatives of 7 states have participated in this carnival.
Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, Dr. Girish Chandel said that 9 varieties of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi have been developed by the Agricultural University and has 300 quintal seeds available. He informed that there is a plan to start Millets Cafe at 6 places. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force Mr. Sanjay Shukla said that millets are super food, it is gluten-free,rich in fiber, protein, minerals, its glycemic index is very low. The price of millets in Chhattisgarh has increased considerably due to the incentives given by the state government. People from other states are buying millets from Chhattisgarh.
NTBN Member Dr. Raj Bhandari, Director ICAR-IIMR Dr. Tara Satyavathi, Senior Scientist Dr. J.J. Stanley also spoke on this occasion. Chairman of Chhattisgarh Housing Board Kuldeep Juneja, Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamal Preet Singh were also present in the programme.
