Shillong, March 28: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Tuesday inaugurated the two-day Eat Right Millet Mela, as part of the International Year of Millet 2023, at Malki Ground in Shillong. The Eat Right Millet Mela was organised by the Commissionerate of Food Safety, Government of Meghalaya.

Speaking on the occasion, Lyngdoh expressed her satisfaction to witness the participation of the young entrepreneurs and millet cultivators from across the state to gain the knowledge and to share the knowledge and experience to others about the various values of millets.

Lyngdoh thanked the United Nations for recognising and reviving millet farming, and stressed that in Meghalaya, millet cultivation is keenly integral to the culture of the people of the state. With the intervention of the government, the minister hoped that many more farmers will rejuvenate the farming practices by taking up millet cultivation which is totally an eco-friendly crop that does not require irrigation facilities or external inputs, and millet can also be used with any food item that is popular in the market.

Earlier, the minister also inspected the different stalls that were set up in the mela exhibiting the various millet food products.

Others present during the programme included R.M Kurbah, Commissioner of Food Safety, S. Kharsati, Director of Agriculture, D.B.S. Mukhim, Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, East Khasi Hills, Dr. Sandra Albert, Director, IIPH Shillong among others.