Calendar for International Year of Millets launched

January 31, 2023 145 Views No Comment

Dimapur, January 31 (MExN): Nagaland Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi launched the Department of Agriculture’s International Year of Millets (IYoM- 2023) Calendar in the presence of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio during the stall exhibition on January 26.

The IYoM- 2023 Calendar was launched with an aim to create awareness and increase production and consumption in millets in the state as millets are among the first cereals to be cultivated and are considered “nutri-cereals” due to high nutritional content, informed a press release received here on Monday. Millets have been long cultivated in Nagaland with other crops in the Jhum fields especially in the hilly terrains, it added.

During the launch, millet seeds were also distributed to three millet growers and complimentary millet-based processed foods were distributed.

As per the release, the yearlong activities for millet crops was launched because millets play an important role that contributes in the collective effort to empower smallholder farmers, achieve sustainable development, eliminate hunger, adapt to climate change, promote biodiversity, and transform agri-food systems. This year, a target for millets to cover about 20,000 hectares has been set as most of the districts grow millets in the state, it said.

The department will also be distributing millet seeds to growers for free and the Calendar activities include dissemination of best practices of millet crops husbandry across all stakeholders, organising and conducting training/workshops on millet at districts and sub division headquarters, formation of millet farmers, FPOs and imparting training on millet crops, organising millet festivals in districts and subdivisions. The activities would culminate with exhibition-cum-showcase of millets for market outlets during the Hornbill Festival at Kisama from December 1 to 10.

The year 2023 marks the celebration of the ‘International Year of millets’ which has been spearheaded by the sustained efforts of India. India is poised to become the global hub for millets with a production of more than 170 lakh tonnes which makes for more than 80% of the millets produced in Asia, the release stated.