Government to promote millets in Uttar Pradesh

The government will promote millets in Uttar Pradesh with a new approach. Uttar Pradesh has taken a very important decision to increase awareness about millets, also known as 'Shri Ann' (the precious grain). The state government has prepared an extensive action plan through the financially supported 'Uttar Pradesh Millets Revival Program' to raise awareness about millets among the people. This program not only aims to promote recipes made from millets but also spread awareness about their benefits.

Under this action plan, considerable efforts have been made to promote millet farming so far, but now, to take it a step further, a comprehensive publicity campaign will be launched to bring millets to common people at a larger scale. The Consumer Awareness Program will be organized in all districts of the state, and millets will also be included in the school curriculum. However, before that, it will be essential to educate teachers about millets, and preparations have already been made to start the comprehensive training of teachers across the state.

It's worth mentioning that millets hold significant potential in the global market as food exports, and the central government aspires to make India the "Number One Millets Exporter Country" in the coming years. In this context, Uttar Pradesh can play a major and positive role in the country's food basket. Considering this, Chief Minister Yogi's vision has hoisted the green flag on the extensive action plan for the Millets Revival Program in the entire state. Starting from February 1, 2023, the Agriculture Department has launched an extensive campaign to encourage farmers in the state to cultivate millets, providing them with free millet seed mini-kits. Efforts have also been made to increase awareness about millets through advertisements in newspapers and electronic media. In continuation of these efforts, Millet-based Resource Centers will be established in the state, and under the new comprehensive action plan, district-level programs will be organized to develop millet recipes, consumer awareness, inclusion in school curricula, and extensive training of teachers.

Millet will be presented as a value-added and value-pressed product, and Melas (fairs) under the supervision of Millets FPOs will be organized for this purpose. According to the information received from the government, various melas will be organized in each district of the state, mainly targeting school students, parents, and teachers to raise awareness about the benefits of millets. The inclusion of millet awareness in the educational curriculum is being emphasized.

Moreover, 200 teachers across the state will receive specialized training at the initial stage. Through these trained teachers, other teachers in the state will also be connected with the Millet Awareness Program, and efforts will be made to promote and spread extensive awareness about millets, debunk myths, and conduct various competitions related to millets, such as essay writing, quizzes, project work, etc.