Saturday, 06 May 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Agriculture minister Ganesh Joshi has said that the State is committed to double its production of millets by the year 2025. He was addressing a programme organised at a university on Friday. The programme was organised by the university to create awareness on millets. Appreciating the programme, the minister said that it is heartening that the students are getting knowledge about the benefits of millets.
He said that the younger generation especially residing in the cities are not aware about millets. Terming millet as a super-food, Joshi said that it is full of protein, fibre, vitamin B, calcium, iron and other nutrients. He said that on the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Joshi said that the State government is starting the Uttarakhand Millet Mission. He said that one kilogramme of Mandwa (pearl millet) would be given at Rs one per ration card under the Antyodaya scheme. The minister added that Jhangora (barnyard millet) would be given in the Mid Day Meal (MDM) in the schools and for successful implementation of the scheme, the State government would purchase Mandawa from the farmers. Joshi said that millets are also being promoted under the Shree Anna Yojana with an objective of strengthening farmers and making people healthy. He informed that Millet fair would be organised in Dehradun from May 13 to 16 to promote millets.
The minister also inspected the stalls of millets and its products on the occasion.
