Aiming at generating awareness and promote millets' consumption and encouraging the farmers to increase cultivation and production of millet a two-day event titled "Promotion of Millets Production in India" was organised at College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Agartala today.
The program, organized by the North-Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), also aimed at creating an upstream effect of increased production by farmers. Around 200 farmers and entrepreneurs participated in the program, which was also supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

On the occasion, while highlighting the context Commodore Rajiv Ashok (Retd), Managing Director, NERAMAC welcomed the farmers, entrepreneurs and other participants. He also highlighted the benefits of millets products and reasons to use them as an alternative to rice.
He also referred to the thrust laid by the central government towards it that led to past year being declared the International Year of Millets.
Shui Anil S Kotmire, General Manager of NABARD emphasized the need for extensive awareness generation on the importance of millets production. He also urged the farmers and entrepreneurs to themselves understand the value of millet consumption and work towards promoting consumption and thereby increased production.
Dr Debasish Sen. Principal, College of Agriculture, Tripura, highlighted the capacity of the College to assist farmers and the project being undertaken with NABARD in Millets. He also mentioned that there is a need to rationalize the need for processing units based on production and innovative means could be used to process these instead of attempting large scale proliferation of processing units. The event was also graced by Dr. Arun Bhai Patel, Dean. College of Fisheries and State agriculture department officials among others.
The highlight of the event is putting up the stalls displaying Millet products for sale and awareness of the public at large. The event witnessed participation of around 200 beneficiaries, including millet farmers and entrepreneurs from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.
Technical session on Mechanization of Millets Cultivation, Millet cultivation and its uses were hosted by College of Agriculture. Tripura and a Street Play on Millet cultivation and its benefits was also enacted. Tools and machineries used in millets cultivation were also displayed.

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SKC/TD/KMD

(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2049221) आगंतुक पटल : 54