On February 28, North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Nidhin Valsan opened the exhibition. The exhibition, which is open to the public until March 3rd, aims to educate visitors about the importance of millets and inspire their inclusion in daily diets.
At the event, the ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute has also set up a stall where viewers can socialize with subject experts on millets and see live samples of the same. The institute is providing expertise on millets in the Goan context as a knowledge partner for the exhibition, including an overview of the historical and current state of affairs.
SP Nidhin Valsan, a cancer survivor and triathlon athlete, spoke at the inauguration and said millets were a big part of his health recovery. He shared his own millet story, describing how millets helped him train for the recent Ironman triathlon, which the officer completed successfully. "For the past ten months, my dinner and breakfast have been millet preparations.”
"Ragi malt has been my dinner every day since I first made the switch, and my strength and endurance have improved remarkably without any weight gain," the SP said, urging visitors to incorporate millets into their diets for a healthier tomorrow.
According to Dr. Praveen Kumar, Director of the ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, millet production has increased only marginally over the years. He emphasized how millets require few inputs and use little water, making them simple to grow for farmers. He also stated that millets can help fight a variety of lifestyle diseases while also providing a lot of nutrition to the body.
Dr. Praveen Kumar attributes his weight loss and improved blood sugar control to the inclusion of millets in his diet. Snacks made from millets were also distributed at the event, as well as a short cultural programme by local artists. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
