Tura, March 17: The College Of Community Science, CAU (Imphal) in Tura held a regional workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities in Millet Cultivation – NER Perspective”, on Monday at their campus.
Organised in collaboration with the AICRP on Sorghum and Small Millets, ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad, the event aimed at promoting the cultivation of millets in the region as a nutrient-rich alternative to the high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat.
The workshop brought together experts, researchers, and farmers from across the Garo Hills region to discuss the challenges and opportunities in millet cultivation.
Dr. Jyoti V. Vastrad, in her formal address emphasized the importance of millet cultivation in the North Eastern Region. “Millets are climate-resilient crops that can thrive in challenging environments. They offer a sustainable solution for food security and livelihood enhancement in our region,” she stated.
Prof. P. L. Patil, Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad while addressing the farmers spoke about the health benefits of different millets and compared the difference between millets, rice and wheat. He also talked about the appetite suppression and weight management attributes of incorporating millet in one’s staple diet.
Lalit Sharma, DIG, BSF, Tura, Meghalaya spoke about the health benefits and historical context of millets. He also stated that the Government of India has issued directives to increase the use of millets in daily diet, with a current target of 30% usage and the community fooding system involves around 100 to 200 jawans having regular meals at one place, making it a significant initiative.
The seminar aims to promote the use of nutrient-rich millets as an alternative as the shift to high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat to ensure food security has led to a reduction in essential nutrients and minerals, and the negative impact of consuming these foods has on health, includes increased risk of diabetes and hypertension.
The event highlighted the common qualities of millets, including high fiber content and low glycemic index. Millets release sugar slowly into the blood, aiding in diabetes control. They are also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which help in flushing out sodium from the body and are also beneficial for hypertension management. Consuming millets regularly can help in controlling blood sugar levels and reducing the need for medication.
The regional workshop was attended by around 200 participants, including farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers, where they discussed about strengthening research and extension services, improving seed systems, and enhancing market linkages. The event also had stalls displaying local products and varieties of organic produce.
Gracing the event was Prof. P. L. Patil, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad; Dr. Jyoti V Vastrad, Dean, CSS, Tura; Lalit Sharma, DIG, BSF, Tura and Dr. Sabyasachi Mazumdar, Assistant Professor MTTC&VTC, CCS, Tura.
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion, where experts and stakeholders outlined strategies for promoting millet cultivation in the region.
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