The Chief Minister inaugurated the country’s largest millet processing industry in Kanker, after
observing the processing industry, took information related to operational activities, marketing and finished products.
The country’s largest millet processing industry opened in Nathia Navagaon, Kanker. Benefited
from various schemes of the government. Interacting with villagers
Raipur, 7 October 2022
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the country’s largest millet processing industry established in the state. On this occasion, the Chief Minister visited the processing industry and inquired about the operational activities, marketing and finished products. He interacted with the villagers benefited from various schemes of the government and inquired about their well being.
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said on the occasion that Chhattisgarh would become the millet hub of the country in the coming times. Today, a small grain processing unit has been started in Nathianwagaon, Kanker, which will benefit the farmers cultivating Kodo-Kutki-Ragi as well as women self-help groups. He said that this unit set up under Millet Mission is India’s largest capacity unit. The annual processing capacity of this unit is 10 to 12 thousand tonnes, which would require around 34 to 40 tonnes of Kodo-Kutki-Ragi per day.
Mr. Baghel said that the raw material for this unit would be made available by the Chhattisgarh State Small Forest Produce Co-operative Federation by purchasing it directly from the farmers through women self-help groups, for which MoU has been signed between Chhattisgarh government and Avani Ayurveda. He said that a cashew processing unit has been set up by the Chhattisgarh government at Bakwand in Bastar, due to which the farmers are getting benefitted there. Today, tamarind processing unit has been established in village Dhuragaon of Lohandiguda block, which will benefit tamarind collectors.
In this processing unit, Kodo-Kutki-Ragi will be processed by 07 types of machines to make rice from Kodo-Kutki-Ragi and its porridge, semolina, Atta Sevai, Pasta, Soup Mix, Biscuit, Cookies, Laddus etc. Along with this, their packaging will also be done. These products will be marketed nationally and internationally.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the small grain processing and related value addition product unit and inspected the plant and inquired about the various process of processing. He also tasted the laddus and halwa prepared from small grains. Subsidy will also be provided by CSIDC to encourage this unit established under Millet Mission of Chhattisgarh Government. IIMR for setting up this unit. MoU has been signed with Hyderabad between Avani Ayurveda Pvt Ltd and District Administration North Bastar Kankar for technical know-how, establishment of high quality seeds, seed bank and training. More than 100 people will get direct and indirect employment from the processing unit of Avani Ayurveda Private Limited and thousands of farmers of Chhattisgarh state will also be benefited. Which produces Kodo-Kutki-Ragi. Farmers will get a fair price for their produce.
Farmers will be encouraged for the cultivation of Kodo-Kutki-Ragi, processing of small grains (Kodo-Kutki-Ragi) and the establishment of a value addition product unit related to it will help more than 100 people directly and about 04 thousand of the district and about the state. 25 thousand farmers who cultivate Kodo-Kutki-Ragi crops will also be benefited indirectly, as well as women groups who purchase them. With the establishment of this unit, the farmers of the district will be encouraged for cultivation of Kodo-Kutki-Ragi. It is noteworthy that the support price of Kodo-Kutki-Ragi has been declared by the Government of Chhattisgarh under Millet Mission. Rs 33.70 per kg of ragi by the government, Kodo and Kutki are being purchased on support price at the rate of Rs.30 per kg. Apart from this, input subsidy is also being given by the state government under Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana for cultivation of other profitable crops instead of paddy.
Chhattisgarh will become millet hub
Millets such as Kodo-Kutki-Ragi are highly nutritious cereals. Millets are gluten free and are rich in protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Millets are beneficial for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and many other diseases and they increase immunity. Millentus is produced in more than 20 districts of Chhattisgarh and the establishment of this unit will provide employment to women groups and youth. Millet Mission has been started from the year 2021 with the objective of promoting the production, processing and use of millets in the state of Chhattisgarh. Traditionally, Kodo, Kutki and Ragi have been cultivated in the state, but due to no policy or program for its procurement and processing, the farmers were not getting its benefits. Kodo by the state government from the year 2020-21, For the first time, while fixing the support price of Kutki and Ragi, arrangements were made for purchase through Primary Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Societies. For Kodo and Kutki Rs. 30/- per kg and for ragi Rs. 33.77 per kg support price fixed.
Shri Manoj Mandavi, Deputy Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister in charge of Kanker district, Smt. Anila Bhendia, Commercial Taxes Minister Shri Kawasi, on the occasion of the launch of processing of small grains (Kodo-Kutki-Ragi) and its related value addition product unit. Lakhma, Parliamentary Secretary Shri Shishupal Shori, Antagarh MLA Shri Anoop Nag, Member of Chhattisgarh Scheduled Tribes Commission Shri Nitin Potai, District Panchayat President Shri Hemant Dhruv, Member of Gau Seva Commission Narendra Yadav, Member of Chhattisgarh State Tourism Board Naresh Thakur, Bastar Development Member of the Authority Biresh Thakur, former MLA and Chairman of District Co-operative Central Bank, Shri Shankar Dhurva, President of Municipal Council Kanker, Smt. Saroj Jitendra Thakur, Deputy Inspector General of Police Shri Balaji Rao, Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Raju Agassimani, Collector Dr. Priyanka Shukla,Superintendent of Police Shri Shalabh Kumar Sinha, public representatives and villagers were present in large numbers.
