Chhattisgarh Millets Carnival, Advice to include millets in the diet given by doctors to BP-sugar patients, Millets fed to children in the form of noodles and pasta
Raipur, 18 February 2023, The three-day Chhattisgarh Millets Carnival is being organized at the Subhash Stadium in the capital Raipur. Millets processing and their value addition were discussed in the second session of the second day of the carnival. In the discussion, experts gave their opinion on the processes before and after millet production.
Mr. Neeraj Mishra, scientist of the Food Processing Department of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, told that the year 2023 has been declared by the United Nations Organization as the International Year of Millets. Other millets, including Kodo, Kutki and Ragi, have a preponderance of nutrients. Millets are produced in abundance in some districts of the middle including Surguja division and Bastar division of Chhattisgarh. India produces 170 lakh tonnes of millets annually. This is 80 percent of the total of the Asian continent and 20 percent of the world’s total. Chhattisgarh also has a big contribution in this.
Chhattisgarh Millets Carnival
Doctors also recommend millets to patients suffering from diseases like cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes. Due to the abundance of fiber, it is also used for stomach problems. The highest amount of calcium is found in ragi. Earlier there was a lack of means for processing millets. At the same time, their resources are now available in sufficient quantity.Explaining the functioning of modern machines through a screen presentation, Mr. Mishra said that millets have not one, two or three but seven to nine layers of skins. Its processing process is a bit complicated. New machines have made this process even easier now. Products like cakes, chocolates, cookies, noodles and pasta are now being made from millets.Mr. Amrish of Avani Ayurveda Company said that work is being done in Kanker with a capacity of 40 tonnes per day. Flour, semolina, oatmeal etc. are being made from Kodo.
Mr. Chudamani Singh, DFO of Kawardha said that Kodo, Kutki and Ragi are produced in large quantities in the district. Millets are traditional products. Flour and other products are being made from Kodo-Kutki in 5 Van Dhan Kendras in the district. Millets laddoos are also being made in Bodla. Through the publicity of Chhattisgarh government, the demand for millets products is continuously increasing.Dr. Srinivas Babu of ICAR-IIMR suggested that to promote millets in Chhattisgarh, availability of machines should be provided to the farmers at different levels in block, district and state. There is a need to promote the export of millets from Chhattisgarh. The central government is also promoting millets. Work should be done towards increasing its storage.
Dr. G. Ayappadasan of Vishara Agrotech Company says that his company is installing solar equipment instead of electricity in millets centers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha. Women are also being given training to work in machines.Government DB Dr. Nanda Gurwala of Kanya Mahavidyalaya said that Chhattisgarh government is working to promote millets. There has been awareness even among those who were not familiar with millets. Bread, biscuits, protein powder, chocolate are now being made from Kodo, Kutki and Ragi. It is useful against malnutrition. Children and pregnant women should consume the product made from Kodo-Kutki. Everyone has to make it a priority to include it in their daily routine. It can be fed to children in the form of noodles and pasta. Government DB Professor of Girls College Dr. Abhaya Joglekar told that after Green Revolution and Blue Revolution, millets revolution has to be brought. First of all women have to start this in every household. From morning breakfast to dinner we need to include millets.
Serial Number: 7015/Kesharwani
