Road Show Organised under Millet Promotion Campaign by Agriculture Production & Farmers’ Welfare Department Kathua

KATHUA, October 28: As the Government of India has decided to make “International Year of Millets 2023” a people’s movement to promote Indian millet-based recipes and value-added products, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare organized Roadshow and millet campaign under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme launched in the state. The walkathon was flagged off by District Development Commissioner Kathua Sh. Rakesh Minhas, IAS and Vice-Chairman, DDC Kathua Sh. Raghunandan Singh (Bablu) along with Chief Agriculture Officer Kathua Sh. Sanjeev Rai Gupta.                      

The Roadshow-Millet campaign commenced from Executive Engg. (PWD) Office, Near District Library Kathua en route Shaheedi Chowk ,Old Govt. Girls Hr. Secondary School via court road and finally culminated at Office Complex of Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua. More than 250 people including farmers, children, officers/ officials from APFWD Kathua took part in the campaign.

DC Kathua Sh. Rakesh Minhas , IAS said “ He appreciates the efforts of APFWD in making such public events successful. Such events create awareness among the masses and celebration of IYOM 2023 is a worldwide event ,widely campaigned to grow millets. Also, the objective behind organizing such events is to encourage people to adopt a healthier lifestyle by utilizing the millets in every day diet. Millets have cultural and historical importance too in various regions of the country as well, he said.

Sh Raghunandan Singh , Vice Chairman, DDC Kathua also thanked APFWD Kathua for promoting such activities which help in raising farm income, public health and cultural significance.

 Sh. Sanjeev Rai Gupta, Chief Agriculture Officer Kathua said “In order to increase production and productivity of Shree Anna, incentives are provided to the farmers on crop production and protection technologies, cropping system based demonstrations, production & distribution of certified seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management techniques, improved farm implements/tools/resource conservation machineries, water saving devices, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping season, organizing events/workshops, distribution of seed mini-kits by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) Kathua. Women Self Help groups of the district were also promoted by incentivizing value addition of millets, He also said” APFWD Kathua had set target of 400 ha of area under millets cultivation during Kharif 2023 , and various dry land areas/ Kandi belts of Hiranagar, Kathua, Billawar and Bani Sub division were brought under millet cultivation. Millet seeds of various types and varieties viz. Kodo, Kangni, Phoolan, Sankhi, Bajra, Sorghum, Jowar, Ragi were distributed among farmers of Kootah, Bobiya, Rassana, Chann Morian, Chann Khatriyan, Hatli, Hote, Dhanni , Bakhta, Borthein , Bhoond, Basohli, Phinter, Billawar, Gujroo Nagrota , Ramkot ,Thara Kalwal to raise the area under Millet cultivation.

  District Agriculture Officer (Ext). Kathua Sh. Murari Lal said, “This event is being organized to sensitize students, teaching staff, farmers and workers of various departments about the potential health benefits of millets”. He also stressed upon expansion of area under millets cultivation and inclusion of millets in daily diet for healthy life.

It is pertinent to mention here that The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared 2023 as the “International Year of Millet-2023 (IYOM-2023)” 

Sh. Ashok Kumar, Area Development Officer (Veg.), Sh. Anil Kumar, Asst. Soil Chemist, Sh. Ashwani Kumar, Mushroom Dev. Officer, Sh. Raj Singh & Sh. Rajesh Mankotia, Subject Matter Specialist (District Level), Sh. Purshottam Gupta, SDAO Kathua, Sh. Ashwani Sharma ,SDAO Hiranagar , AEOs, JAEOs, AEAs and other officials from Agriculture Production & Farmers’ Welfare Kathua participated in the campaign. 

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)