Jeypore: A woman self help group (SHG) of Nuaguda block in Koraput district Thursday launched an awareness drive to include millets in household consumption in order to address nutritional issues and crop failure due to deficit of rain.
The SHG, under the supervision of Chennai-based MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, launched the drive at Kundura.
Women of Pakhanaguda, Kundura, Lima and Banuaguda panchayats under Nuaguda block and the VLW of agriculture department were present on the occasion and asked the participants to include food prepared from millets like little millet (suan), foxtain millet (kangu), finger millet (mandia) and pearl millet (bajra) in their daily diet.
A rally was taken out from Sagarguda village on this occasion to make people aware that consumption of millets is highly beneficial for human bodies.
Taking part in the programme, SHG member Raimati Ghiuria said the state government has launched Odisha Millet Mission, a new scheme, to encourage millet farming in tribal-dominated region. Farmers should avail the facilities under the scheme as cultivation of finger millet in the area has been hit.
In a bid to deal with nutritional deficiency, the state government has started promoting millet cultivation in tribal pockets through Millet Mission, it was learnt.
People should add food prepared from millets and the administration should process it for marketing, proposed the SHG member.
The VLWs of Kundura and Masigaon explained the participants about the nutritional content available in finger millets, pearl millet, little millet and foxtail millet. The participants were also served items made from these millets on the occasion.