This story is from November 12, 2023
Koraput girl showcases 100 varieties of millets at international convention
“I was inspired from Padma Shri awardees Kamala Pujari and Sabaramatee, who are working on conservation of indigenous seeds and promotion of organic farming, respectively. I have been collecting the seed varieties of millets for the past eight months. Surendra Masti, farmers and my father, a plantation officer, also helped me in my work,” she added. She has attended a global symposium in New Delhi with her seeds. She wants to collect more such varieties and become an agriculture scientist to work on millets. “I have collected 80 landraces (traditional varieties) of finger millet and 20 of other millets from places like Boipariguda, Kundra, Kotpad, Lamataput, Koraput and Nabarangpur. I have also collected 150 landraces of rice from farmers. I have been trying to find out about the millet varieties,” she said.
Similarly, Nek Ram Sharma from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, a Padma Shri awardee, showcased several varieties of millets at the event. He is known for intercropping system and millet cultivation. He has also inspired his fellow farmers in his panchayat and nearby localities to grow millets.
Sharma said the Himachal Pradesh government has also taken steps to promote cultivation and consumption of millets. “We are cultivating nine types of millets. If we consume millets daily, we will not fall sick very often. My love for millets will not end,” he added.
Millets emerging as hope for future: CM
The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, has emphasized the importance of promoting millets to support rain-fed farmers and ensure justice and equity. He inaugurated the International Convention on Millets and stated that millets can contribute to nutritional security. The Odisha government has launched the Odisha Millets Mission and is investing over Rs 2,500 crore to support millet cultivation and provide income and livelihood support to farmers. Experts have suggested including millets in the diet for the first 1,000 days of a baby's life and called for government support through incentives and procurement.
Humble millets emerging as hope for future: Naveen
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the International Convention on Millets, emphasizing the importance of promoting millet cultivation for the livelihoods and nutrition of tribal communities. Patnaik highlighted the role of millets in achieving nutritional security and announced efforts to make Odisha a center for excellence in millet production. The convention aimed to establish a global roadmap for millets and featured discussions on packaging technologies, public awareness, branding, and the creation of a worldwide millet market. The state government is investing over Rs 2500 crore to support farmers and increase millet cultivation.
Inclusion of millets in diet for first 1000 days of birth
Experts at the International Convention on Millets have suggested that millets should be included in the diet of babies for the first 1000 days after birth. They have also proposed a 10-year policy roadmap for promoting millets in India, which includes incentives and assured procurement for farmers, increasing cultivation area, and establishing farming schools at the block level. The experts have emphasized the importance of research, promoting short duration millets, and implementing innovative marketing strategies, while also highlighting the need for nutrition-rich and organic millets.
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