Doimukh, Jun 1: The Agriculture department will pitch  in to  buy surplus millet produced, said Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Er  Tage Taki while encouraging the farmers to grow and adopt  millets as staple food during the  inaugural program of  the International Year of  millet celebrations at the community hall Rono at Doimukh on Thursday.
The International Year of Millet organised by the District Agriculture Office, Papum Pare aims to create awareness about millets for food and nutritional security and motivate the farmers to improve sustainable production and quality millets.
Addressing the farmers  from Tawang, West Kameng,East Kameng, Pakke Kesang and Papum pare districts, the Agriculture Minister said "The climate resilient millet,  which is a low cost and high value crop  that  thrives even in stressful conditions can be cultivated across Arunachal Pradesh.'
Encouraging the youths  to take up agricultural and horticultural activities for self employment and income generation, the Minister added that " The government has devised farmer-friendly,  sustainable and self-reliant policies and programs, of which the youths should take maximum advantage".
Addressing the women farmers in particular who constituted 95 percent of the participants, Er. Taki said that "it  is an indicator that our state is forging ahead in the right direction."
Advisor to Minister Agri , horti and allied departments and MLA Tana Hali Tara, while highlighting the health benefits of millets said "This anti cancer, anti diabetics ,anti blood pressure and a source of anti oxidants crop should be adopted as staple food."
Suggesting for making Papum Pare district as an agricultural and horticultural hub, Tara exhorted the department officials, farmers and members of the SHGs for their concerted efforts.
Director of Agriculture, Anong Lego highlighted the multifaceted IEC activities undertaken by the department to popularise millets. He informed that  IECs and trainings have been carried out at Sagalee, Sangdupota, Mengio and Doimukh.
Riakji Duchok, ADO, Nodal Officer IYM 2023,  dwelt in length about the importance of declaring 2023 as "International year of Millet" and outlined the activities proposed during the year. He informed that besides evolving a marketing strategy; intensive IEC activities to popularise millets through  field visits, frontline demonstrations, melas etc., will be carried out in the coming months.
He also informed that the state has been divided into four zones with Ziro, Yupia, Pasighat and Khonsa as venues for conducting the IECs , melas and farmer interaction programs.
Dr. Nagesh Narayan Pandey from Guwahati based 'Vivid Enterprises' which deals specifically in millet based products also spoke about various  products like cakes, biscuits, cookies etc., that can be made from millets.
As a part of the celebrations exhibition stalls exhibiting value added millet products and other organic products  were set up by the SHGs,  farmers and agriculture department. The farmers were also provided with technical and interactive sessions on millet cultivations and its commercialisation.
Among others District Agriculture Officer Maze Peil,  DHO Tobom Bam, , Agriculture Development Officers from the headquarters and the  districts attended the event. DIPRO

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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