Children will get nutrition, consumption of millets will increase, farmers will be benefited
The Chief Minister inaugurated the three-day Chhattisgarh Millet Carnival in the capital Raipur.
6 millets cafes will open in urban areas
CEO of Millets Research Institute, Government of India praised the Chhattisgarh Millet Mission
Raipur, 17 February 2023
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has said that in order to promote millets, millets should be included in the mid-day meal program for children in schools. Due to this, where the children across the country will get nutritious food, there will be no problem of market for millets products for the farmers who produce millets and farmers will also be benefited. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel expressed his views while inaugurating the three-day ‘Chhattisgarh Millet Carnival’ organized at Subhash Stadium in capital Raipur today.
The Chief Minister said on the occasion 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 nutritional value of millets. Chhattisgarh is already ahead in 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. Due to the encouragement received by the farmers producing millets from the state government, the area under millets crops has increased almost 3 times in the state, earlier millets were cultivated in 70 thousand hectare area, now this area has increased to 1 lakh 65 thousand hectare.
Chief Minister Mr. 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. The support price of Kodo and Kutki was announced by the state government at Rs.3000 and as a result of giving input subsidy of Rs.9000 per acre to the farmers producing millets under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, the production of millets increased in Chhattisgarh. The enthusiasm of our farmers increased and 55 thousand quintal millets were procured in the first year itself. Due to the increase in the demand of millets, it is being consumed in the open market, due to which only 35 thousand quintals could be procured on the support price this year. The market price of kodo, kutki and ragi also increased, earlier the market price of millets used to be Rs 12 to 15 per kg.
The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh has gone far ahead even in the matter of millets processing. 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 production of millets, collection and processing through women self-help groups and vandhan samitis. The attraction of farmers towards cultivation of millets increased, their income also increased.
The Chief Minister said that today the demand for millets has increased in the country and abroad due to their nutritional properties. He said that Kodo, Kutki and Ragi have always been sown in Chhattisgarh. This crop was planted in rural areas on those lands where irrigation was negligible. Earlier, the big farmers of Chhattisgarh also used to store Kodo, because it was used to fill the stomach during the drought. Kodo seeds remain safe for 12 years. There is no disease in its crop, because of this no pesticide is used in it. Pesticides used in crops today are also the cause of diseases like BP, sugar, cancer along with lifestyle. The Chief Minister also told that kodo should not be used after water gets into it, there is a risk of food poisoning.
The Chief Minister said that millets, especially Kodo, were considered food for toiling people, Kodo is rich in minerals and nutrients, sugar is least in it. Today Kodo has become the food of the rich. Because diabetes is maximum in this class of people. He appreciated the work done by the Forest Department in procurement and processing of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi, minor forest produce. The Chief Minister said that considering the properties of millets, it should be included in the food plate.
Forest Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar said that Chhattisgarh Millet Carnival is being organized in the capital Raipur with the slogan ‘Sehat ke Moti, Kodo-Kutki-Ragi’, considering the qualities of millets. Through this carnival, we will get to know about the merits of millets. Kodo, Kutki and Ragi are very beneficial for health. He said that Chhattisgarh Millets Mission was started on January 10, 2022 on the initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel. The campaign to encourage millets by the state government was successful in Chhattisgarh, due to which the demand for millets has increased in the market. It is commendable.
Representative of Government of India praised Chhattisgarh Millet Mission
In the launch ceremony, Millets Research Institute, NutriHub, Government of India, Dr. B. Appreciating Chhattisgarh Millet Mission, Dayakar Rao said that the work of Millet Mission in Chhattisgarh is very good. 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
In the programme, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel distributed symbolic 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 programme.
7 states participated in the carnival
Principal Secretary Forest Shri Manoj Kumar Pingua said in his address that the carnival was organized under the joint aegis of Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association and IIMR Hyderabad. He told that 49 carnival 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. Vishwavidyalaya 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 with 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 addressed. Chairman of Chhattisgarh Housing Board Mr. Kuldeep Juneja, Raipur Mayor Mr. Ejaz Dhebar, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamalpreet Singh were also present in the programme.
