Poonch: A Road show cum Millet Mela was organized on Wednesday by Department of Agriculture Poonch in connection with observance of International Year of Millets with a focus to explore the local potential of Millet cultivation and transforming the agricultural scenario.
The farmers were imparted detailed awareness about the cultivation of millets and its consumption on large scale.
The event was formally flagged off by District Development Commissioner, Yasin M. Choudhary from Sports Stadium Poonch. After passing different parts of the city, the road show culminated at Chief Agriculture Office Complex Poonch where different recipes of millets were served to the farmers.
Chief Agriculture Officer, Rakesh Kumar Sharma briefed the participants about the importance of the millets in their daily diet and exhorted the farmers to increase the area under Millet (Bajra, Ragi, Jowar etc.) cultivation. He made a reference to the age old healthy practice of using millets in their diet and having a healthy life style.
He said that the Govt. of India is now focusing on reintroducing health supplements including millets for promoting a healthy life style among the masses. He also informed that 7.50 Qtls. seed of different millets were provided free of cost to the farmers during kharif-2023 with a focus of creating awareness among the farmers through cluster demonstrations. He further asked the youths to come forward for availing the subsidy for opening of millet restaurants under HADP-Scheme with the objective of increasing millet consumption and including millets in demand-supply chain.
District Development Commissioner requested all the participants to join hands to promote awareness about Millets leading to increase consumption and cultivation benefitting the farmers. He urged everyone present on the occasion to promote millet consumption as it is having less carbohydrates and rich in minerals, proteins, vitamins and a healthier alternative.
Assistant Soil Conservation Officer, Sham Gupta, District Agriculture Officer (Ext.) Poonch, Munshi Ram, SMS (DL) Ravinder Pal Singh Bali, Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer Poonch, Neeraj Kumar Sharma, Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer Surankote. Naresh Sharma along with staff, District Coordinator JKNRLM besides large number of farmers and farm-women also participated in the event.
Technical Officer to Chief Agriculture Officer Poonch, Charanjeet Singh Raina conducted the proceeding of the event.
