New initiative for health and prosperity in Chhattisgarh through Millet Mission
Special guest Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi inspected the stall of Millet Mission
Millets will play an important role in eradicating malnutrition: Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
12 small millet processing centers have been established in 10 districts of the state
Raipur, 13 April 2023
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel and special guest Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi inspected various stalls set up by the government departments in the Bharose Ka Sammelan held at Jagdalpur in Bastar. During the inspection of the stalls, the Chief Minister and the distinguished guest stopped at the stall of Millet Mission and Chief Minister’s Nutrition Campaign and inspected it closely. During this, Mrs. Gandhi also inquired about millets processing. The special guest interacted with the women of the self-help group while praising the products made from millets. The women of the self-help group also presented a basket full of products made of millets to the distinguished guest, which he gladly accepted.
Country’s first state to promote Millets
Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country, where millets are being continuously promoted under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel. In Chhattisgarh, not only the support price of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi has been declared, but it is also being procured at the support price. Through the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association, procurement is being done by fixing the minimum support price of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi in the state. With this initiative, the area under millets in Chhattisgarh has increased one and a half times and production has also increased.
Millets have traditionally been an important part of the daily diet of the tribal community in Chhattisgarh. Even today, Ragi’s madia page is drunk with great fervor in Bastar. Millets are widely cultivated in the forests of Chhattisgarh. In view of this, Millet Mission is being run in the state on the initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel to encourage the production and consumption of coarse grains.
helpful in eliminating malnutrition
The main objective of the Millet Mission started in Chhattisgarh, the main objective of which is to promote the processing of millet along with the cultivation of millet (kodo, kutki, ragi, jowar etc.) in the state. Apart from this, malnutrition is to be removed by encouraging the use of millets in the daily diet.
Millets have also been included in Anganwadi and mid-day meals in the state. Dishes made from millets are being served to the children in the mid-day meal in the schools. These include recipes like cookies made from millets, laddoos and soya chikki.
So far, 2 lakh 65 thousand children have become free from malnutrition and one and a half lakh women have become anemia free from the Mukhyamantri Suposhan Yojana.
Large processing plant in Nathia-Navagaon
The biggest millets processing plant has also been set up at Nathia-Navagaon in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, which is Asia’s biggest millets processing unit. So far 12 small millet processing centers have been established in 10 districts of the state. Millets processing plants are being set up in the Rural Industrial Park being developed in Gauthan.
On the initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, a luncheon has also been organized in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly to promote dishes made from millets. State’s first mobile millet cafe ‘Millet on Wheels’ has also been inaugurated in Kharsia of Raigarh district. It has become the first choice of health conscious people, food bloggers and youth.
Chhattisgarh awarded at national level
The state has also received the National Level Nutritious Grain Award 2022 for the cultivation of millets in Chhattisgarh. Due to the Millet Mission, farmers’ interest in the cultivation of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi (Millets) has increased rapidly in the state. Millets, which were earlier sold at half price, are now being sold at good prices in the state of Chhattisgarh. In the last one year, the number of farmers producing certified seeds has increased almost 5 times and the income from this has increased 4 times.
The area under cultivation of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi has increased from 69 thousand hectare to one lakh 88 thousand hectare in the state. Millet producing farmers are also being given the benefit of Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. These farmers are also being given exchange assistance at the rate of Rs 9000 per acre.
