Millets emerging as hope for future: CM

BHUBANESWAR: The promotion of millets is about justice and equity to rain-fed farmers of Odisha, said chief minister Naveen Patnaik here on Thursday while inaugurating the two-day International Convention on Millets by planting a sapling. The convention will prepare a global roadmap for millets, official sources said.
"My government will put in all efforts to make Odisha a centre for excellence and contribute to economic growth, well-being and health of the people of Odisha," said Naveen.He said millets can play an important role in nutritional security. "The humble millet is emerging as a hope for our future," he added.
Naveen said the state launched Odisha Millets Mission in 2017 to revive the crop. "To encourage millet cultivation, we have increased the direct benefit incentives for millets and laid out assured procurement of ragi. The state government is investing over Rs 2,500 crore to provide income and livelihood support to farmers," he added.
He also released a coffee table book and special postal cover. He felicitated five millet farmers for achieving exceptional success in millet production.
In a session on packaging technologies, the speakers highlighted the importance of efficient processing and packaging technologies for value-added millet products, the need for a roadmap to raise public awareness about the high nutritional value of millets in India and other countries, and ways to improve farmers livelihoods.
Experts suggested that the government should include millets in diet for first 1,000 days of birth of a baby. They said states should support farmers through incentives and assured procurement with inclusion of millets under public distribution system.