Prime Minister Modi has said that India’s millet scheme will benefit 2.5 crore small and marginal farmers.
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged farmers to adopt this nutritious coarse grain as their preferred crop as India takes various steps to bring millets on the global food map. He highlighted its health benefits and flagged the role of millets in “fighting malnutrition”.
“India is the number one millet producer in the world. So the onus is on us as Indians to make this initiative a success,” Modi said during his radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat. He also noted how the world’s craze for millets is growing and recalled how the UN had declared 2023 as the International Year of Millet based on India’s proposal, which was accepted by more than 70 countries.
Mentioning his personal efforts to popularize this nutritional grain, the Prime Minister said, “For the past few years, whenever foreign guests visit India and heads of state visit India, it has been my endeavor to get food from millets. of India, viz., our coarse grains in feasts.”
Urging the farmers to opt for millet cultivation, he explained how millet crops are not only ready in a very short time but also require less water and how beneficial rye can be especially for small farmers. Besides, millet straw is also considered as excellent fodder, he said.
On the health benefits of millet, he said, “Millets are rich in protein, fiber and minerals. Many people even call it a ‘superfood’… It reduces obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart related diseases. Millets are very effective in fighting malnutrition as they are packed with energy and protein.
