Chhattisgarh will become country's millet hub: CM Bhupesh Baghel

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh,  September 13

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has asserted that Chhattisgarh will become the millet hub of the country in the coming times.

Addressing a program at Raipur organized for signing of MoU between government and Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad, he said that under the Millet Mission,an initiative has been taken to give the farmers right price for small cereal crops, provide input assistance, procurement arrangements, processing and ensure that the farmers get benefit of the expertise of experts. ``Like minor forest produce, we want to make small grain crops also the strength of Chhattisgarh,’’ a government release quoting him said.

The MoU was signed with Collectors of 14 districts under Millet Mission of the state including Kanker, Kondagaon, Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, Balrampur, Koriya, Surajpur and Jashpur. Under the MoU, the Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad will provide support and guidance for increasing the productivity of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi, technical know-how, availability of high quality seeds and establishment of seed bank in Chhattisgarh.  Apart from this, arrangements will be made for training the farmers of Chhattisgarh through Krishi Vigyan Kendra for spreading the scientific technology developed at the national level related to millet production by IIMR Hyderabad at the field level.

On this occasion, Forest and Climate Change Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar, Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Subrata Sahoo, Agriculture Production Commissioner M. Geeta, Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation Managing Director Sanjay Shukla,  Secretary Industries Department, Ashish Bhatt, Director Industries Anil Tuteja were present.

 Director of Indian Institute of Millet Research Dr. Vilas A. Tonapi and Chief Scientist Dr. Dayakar Rao and Collectors of 14 districts joined the program online. In view of the increasing demand for millets like Kodo-Kutki and Ragi in the country and abroad, the Millet Mission will not only increase the income of the farmers of Vananchal and tribal areas, but will also give a new identity to Chhattisgarh, the release added.

 At the same time, the processing and value addition of millets will also provide employment to farmers, women's groups and youth. Kodo-Kutki, Ragi are produced in 20 districts of Chhattisgarh. In the first phase, MoUs were signed with 14 of these districts.

 The Chief Minister said that the State Government has now started Mission-Millet to increase the yield of these crops, ensure good procurement arrangements and take them to the city markets after processing. Along with fixing the support price of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi, the state government has also included these under the purview of Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. With this, now the farmers growing these small cereal crops will also be able to get input assistance like other farmers.

The Chief Minister further said that the purchase of minor cereal crops would be done through the Van Dhan societies of Chhattisgarh Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Federation. After processing these crops, it will be used in schemes like mid-day meal, public distribution system and nutrition program. With this, arrangements will be ensured to take the finished products to the markets of the metropolitan cities. It has also been decided to manage Rs 170 crore 30 lakh for the next five years of Millet Mission through DMF and other means. He said that under Millet Mission, farmers growing Kodo-Kutki and Ragi crops would be given an input assistance of Rs.9000 per acre and Rs.10,000 per acre for growing Kodo-Kutki and Ragi instead of paddy.

The Chief Minister said that like minor forest produce, large-scale employment opportunities would be created at the local level due to value addition of small-grain crops. Two processing units have been established at Kanker and Durgukondal.

IIMR Director Dr Vilas A. Tonapi said that in the present times, there is a need to increase food diversity in our diet to address the problem of life style diseases and malnutrition.

 The Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Federation, Sanjay Shukla said that IIMR specialists will be posted in the districts by the State Government who will guide the farmers to increase the production of millets. Senior consultants will also be appointed at the state level. He will act as a master trainer. He said that seed banks for small grain crops would be established in Bastar, Surguja, Kawardha and Rajnandgaon.

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