To mark the International Year of Millets 2023, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has kicked off various initiatives to increase millet production in the north-eastern state of Assam.
Dr. CV Ratnavathi, Director of the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, Vincent MD, CGM of SBI, Guwahati, Rajesh Bora, Zonal Manager, Central Bank of India, BC Bora, Member of the Assam Agriculture Commission, and other dignitaries attended a Millets Day organized by NABARD at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalashetra on Tuesday.
At the event, Dhingra stated that NABARD is in line with the goals and primary focus of the State Government's Assam Millets Mission (AMM), which aims to address the nutritional needs of the state's population in general and for women and children in particular.
In the 'Regional Advisory Group' meeting on farmers' issues, with close coordination of various stakeholders, he made reference to a rambling discussion on the theme 'Value Chain of Millets- Issues and Challenges in Assam' regarding sector-specific issues for policy formulation, implementation and development of infrastructure, credit linkage, and marketing, etc.
Assam has a few districts with significant millet production, production, and productivity areas. The implementation of model millet projects by NABARD in 23 districts serving 1,150 farmers in the state is likely to address a number of issues with millets' cultivation, production, and marketing in Assam, particularly those caused by a lack of knowledge about the millet value chain, limited access to high-quality seed, low levels of mechanization, low local demand leading to uncompetitive prices for farmers, and a lack of processing facilities and post-harvest management.
The dignitaries emphasized millet's nutritive advantages and its simplicity in cultivation for a self-sufficient economy. The bankers urged the farmers to use bank loans wisely to increase the output of high-value millet.
On the occasion, 23 sanction letters for the implementation of the Model Millet Project in Assam were given to Project Implementing Agencies in 23 districts. A video film and pamphlet named 'Konidhan: The Millets of Assam' were also launched by NABARD.
