Guwahati (Assam) [India], September 10 (ANI): The farmers and entrepreneurs of Assam and other parts of the North Eastern region praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his initiative to promote the cultivation and consumption of millet and said that they are getting benefits from the government’s initiatives.
Tago Tanu, an entrepreneur and founder of KT Marketing of Arunachal Pradesh, told ANI that the government has extended its support to the promotion of millet products.
“Through NERAMAC, we are getting lots of support and response to promote our products in every state. Recently we visited Tripura, Meghalaya, and now Guwahati, and later we will promote our products in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also. The public should also come forward because there are lots of health benefits from millets. As of now, there are around 100 farmers engaged with us, and we have collected raw materials from them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a good initiative to promote millets. The government is supporting us,” Tago Tanu said.
Yagum, another lady from Arunachal Pradesh, said that the farmers should take the facilities what the government has provided and taken initiatives to cultivation and consumption of millets.
“We also want to make our people aware of the benefits of millets. We should take the facilities provided by the government,” Yagum said.
Mayashri Baruah, an entrepreneur of Guwahati, told ANI that it’s a welcoming move taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government to promote millets, and the people are now realising its value and they are accepting this.
“We get training from the government to produce value-added millets products. I got the opportunity to take part in the G20 to represent Assam. Next I will go to take part in the World Food Expo, and the government will sponsor me. I have gotten lots of support from the government. We are also getting motivation from the Prime Minister’s initiative,” Mayashri Baruah said.
A two-day event titled “Promotion of Millets in India” was organised by the North-Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India began at Guwahati on Tuesday.
The events aim at generating awareness and promoting the benefits of millet consumption to create an upstream effect of increased production by farmers.
Commodore Rajiv Ashok (Retd), Managing Director, NERAMAC, while setting the context for the event and welcoming the dignitaries, farmers, entrepreneurs, and other participants highlighted the benefits of millets, Indias Golden Grain which is a nutritional powerhouse and reasons to use them as an alternative to rice.
He also spoke about the Indian government’s thrust towards this produce over the last few years leading up to the world recognizing it in the form of an International Year of Millets in 2023.
Loken Das, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Assam, commended the effort being taken by NERAMAC in the Agri-Horti sector in general and for promotion of millets in specific.
He mentioned that millet is a superfood in a true sense and that a collaborative effort between NABARD, NERAMAC, and the state government would yield beneficial results for farmers.
Tej Prasad Bhusal, ACS, Government of Assam, highlighted that millets were always a part of the diet of our ancestors and that it was essential to preserve and promote it for food security, agri-diversity, and its nutritious nature.
He appreciated NERAMAC’s efforts for taking up the cause of millet consumption.
The event was also attended by Nabin Roy, GM NABARD, Anupam Gogoi, Deputy Director Agriculture, Govt. of Assam, and Dipika Phegu, SPM Value Chain, ASRLMS.
The highlights of the event are the stalls displaying Millet products for sale and awareness of the public at large.
The event witnessed the participation of around 200 beneficiaries, including millet farmers and entrepreneurs from Assam & Arunachal Pradesh.
The event is supported by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. (ANI)
