Raipur, 18 May 2023
Meaningful results of the Millet Mission started in Chhattisgarh are visible. Instead of paddy cultivation, farmers are now getting attracted towards ragi and kodo, kutki crops. For the first time, farmers have taken ragi crop instead of paddy in about 500 hectares in Bemetara district.
Chhattisgarh is the only state in the country, where Kodo, Kutki and Ragi are being procured at the support price and the work of its value addition is also being done. Kodo-Kutki is being procured at the rate of Rs.3000 per quintal on the support price and ragi is being procured at the rate of Rs.3377 per quintal. Along with this, input subsidy is also being given to the farmers taking other crops instead of paddy under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. The state government is providing input subsidy at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre for taking horticulture crops along with other kharif crops instead of paddy.
Farmers taking Ragi crop for the first time in Bemetara,
Mr. Ghanshyam Verma, a resident of Jia village of Bemetara development block, is cultivating ragi crop in his 5 acres of farm under the seed production program and is registered with the Seed Corporation Patharra under the seed production program. The area under millet in the district was nil in the previous years, but this year, for the first time, 550 hectares of ragi crop has been cultivated in the district under the National Agriculture Development Scheme and registration of farmers has also been done under the certified seed production programme. In this way, with the availability of certified ragi seed, an attempt was made to make the district self-sufficient and to increase the area under ragi crop.
Growing demand for ragi
There is a sudden increase in the continuous demand of millet grains due to their nutritional value. Seeing the increasing demand, farmers are also growing these crops. Ragi, whose other name is also Madua, farmers are being encouraged to produce these crops under the Millet Mission started in Chhattisgarh. Farmers are being provided with improved seeds and other assistance. The price of ragi is also getting very good in the market and at the same time it is not too difficult to cultivate it. That is, by cultivating ragi, farmers can earn well with less effort.
Benefits of ragi crop
Ragi has the highest amount of calcium, which makes bones strong when used. Ragi can be a good food for children and adults. Protein, fat, fibre, and carbohydrates are found in abundance in these crops. It is rich in important vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and essential amino acids, which are essential for various bodily functions. Ragi-rich food is of low glycemic index. Due to the abundance of calcium and other minerals, it is especially beneficial for diseases related to osteoporosis and for children’s diet (baby food).
