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Millets for LiFe

National Mission for Clean Ganga
(NMCG) and Wildlife Institute
of India (WII) organised a one-
day national level seminar on
‘Millets for LifE (Lifestyle for
Environment): Developing Climate
Resilient Local Communities in the
Ganga Basin’ at India International
Centre, New Delhi, on 24th January.
The seminar connected experts
involved with several aspects of
millet cultivation and marketing
promotion, including policymakers, (fSSAI) participated in the inaugural shift. We have to make the ‘Millet
academicians and practitioners. session of the seminar. Campaign’ profitable for farmers’,”
Extensive deliberations were Mr. G. Asok Kumar, DG, NMCG Mr. Kumar said, adding, “We will
conducted on various strategies began his address by expressing try to make the Ganga Basin a Millet
to promote natural farming and gratitude towards Ganga Praharis Basin in the coming few years.”
sustainable development in the for their support towards Ganga Mr. Ganji Kamala Vardhana
Ganga Basin. United Nations rejuvenation. Referring to the United Rao, emphasized the changing
General Assembly (UNGA) has Nations recognition of Namami consumption patterns of people
declared 2023 as International Year Gange as one of the one of the ‘Top in India and called for eating habits
of Millets (IYM). Prime Minister 10 World Restoration flagships that are based on the nutritious
Mr. Narendra Modi has called for to Revive the Natural World’ he value of the food we eat. “We have
a mass movement in the country
to promote Millet and urged credited the Ganga Praharis for the to change our perspective and shift
to promote nutrition campaign achievement and called them the to a sustainable living rooted in
through Millets. ‘Brand Ambassadors’ of Namami the traditional wisdom of our own
Gange programme. country,” he added.
The seminar was aimed at initiating
discussions and formulating Mr. Kumar emphasized on the Dr. Khader Valli termed Millets
strategies towards adopting millet importance of millets which form as superfood that is available
as the means of transformation to an integral part of the core diet taken in 2800 varieties on the planet.
impart sustainable development by people residing in the villages He emphasized that Millets
and promotion of natural farming and is part of the Indian tradition. are important for sustainable
practices in the Ganga basin. “We have forgotten the traditional development as it immensely
The seminar provided direction wisdom of our own country because improves our immunity due to the
towards promoting millet-based of the tendency of some among us rich fibre content. “Millets is our
natural farming practices among the to blindly ape the west. It is time traditional food which used to be
local communities. It also gave an to go back to our roots,” he added, the source of essential nutrients.
understanding of instilling skills for referring to the Independence The other grains prevalent in India
millet-based alternative livelihoods Day speech of Prime Minister Mr. are imposed in one way or the
to enhance local incomes and Narendra Modi in which he said other,” he said, adding, “Millets
achieve the goal of LifE. that Pran of Amrit Kaal - Goal are also important from the point
of developed India, is to remove of view of water conservation as
Mr. G. Asok Kumar, Director any trace of colonial mindset, take they consume very less water as
General, NMCG, Dr. Khader pride in our roots, unity and sense compared to other crops.” He said
Valli, food Scientist, Mr. Ganji of duty among citizens. “We have to that India must focus on production
Kamala V. Rao, Chief Executive address the challenge of monetizing of Millets on a large scale and go
Officer (CEO) of the Food Safety the cultivation of Millets so that back to the traditional eating habits
& Standards Authority of India more and more farmers make the to remain healthy.

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