Itanagar, Feb 25: A Draft Final Report presentation cum Stakeholder meeting was convened at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh to discuss the findings and recommendations of the study entitled, ‘In-depth analysis of millet for its potentialities for production, processing, value addition & market opportunities for sustainable economic growth in the state of Arunachal Pradesh’. The study was initiated under NEDFi’s Techno Economic Development Fund (TEDF).
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Otem Padung, Department of Commerce & also an Internal Committee Expert of TecnhoEconomic Development Fund (TEDF), NEDFi along with Senior officials of line departments, Dean of CAU, (Agriculture) & Horticulture, Pasighat, District Agricultural & Horticultural Officers and Farmers of the State. The meeting was also attended by the officials of NEDFi along with the Technical Experts from Assam Agricultural University, Assam and Central Agricultural University, Pasighat.
The study has explored State’s millet ecosystem through primary surveys and developed a benchmarking matrix comparing district wise production, potential, technical constraints, value chain gaps,  processing capacity, and farmer economics. The study also addresses market opportunities for millet-based products, identify locations for MSME incubation, analyse relevant schemes to attract private investment, and prepared bankable DPRs with detailed risk assessment and mitigation strategies across production, processing, branding and marketing.
Besides, the study also highlighted the tribal food eco-systems of Arunachal Pradesh, organic cultivation practices across diverse agro-ecological zones. The presentation also provides insights on different constraints related to low productivity, weak seed systems, labour-intensive practices, inadequate post-harvest infrastructure, sparse processing units, and limited technology adoption. The critical role to be played by women in Arunachal Pradesh in cultivation, processing, local marketing was also emphasized to promote marketable surplus and value addition. 
The participated progressive farmer emphasized the need for having the facility of Millet milling especially in the millet grown areas in the state. The stakeholders and members present in the meeting also observed that awareness programme on the health benefit of millet need to be widely emphasized through KVKs.
The study reveals that a food-security-first strategy based upon productivity enhancement, localized processing, women-led enterprises, and FPO/SHG-led institutional delivery is essential for sustainable millet value chain development in the state. The sincere effort of NEDFi in bringing out such policy recommendations and strategy based on field study findings through its Techno Economic Development Fund was highly appreciated.

 

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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
Phone: 0360-2212313

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