EFFORTS ON TO REVIVE MINOR MILLETS IN BARGARH DIST
Tuesday, 25 June 2013 |
SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
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Farmers
of Gaisillet and Paikmaal blocks in Padmapur sub-division of Bargarh district
are now all set for cultivation of minor millets. The minor millets had been
losing their popularity and virtually had vanished due to lack of promotion by
the Government.
“We want to revive and
promote minor millet in Gaisillet block and provide the farmers healthy and
nutritious food,” says Siba Sahu of Ahimsha Club of Padampur. The club has been
taking special initiatives for the revival of the millets.
“We have distributed
Kudo, Mandia, Suuan Kango, Gurjee and Kandul seeds in Bhutibahal, Nathapali,
Lebdi, Dangbahal, Jalpat and other villages in Gaisilet block among 200 farmers
between June 10 and 12 with support from Millets Network India (MINI) and
have taken up steps to revive and promote minor millets cultivation in 10
villages of the district,” asserts Sahu.
He continues, “We have
formed a committee of women farmers on minor millets to monitor the progress of
the cultivation. Farmers have taken up minor millets cultivation in their
fields with another crop like ground nut.”
“I have taken up mixed
minor millets cultivation in my field. The cultivation of these crops is
becoming extinct from our area but of late due to the special effort by the
members of the Ahinsha Club, minor millets will again take the centre stage.
The major benefit of the consumption of minor millets is that it tackles the
problem of malnutrition,” says Mohan Putel, a farmer of Bhuti Bahal village.
Moreover, women have also
come forward to revive the minor millets. They have formed a committee and
demanded that minor millets be given to women and chidren through
Anganwadi/ICDS for their better health.
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