Production of Kodo, Kutki, Ragi will be promoted on a mission mode: Baghel

Raipur, Jul 08:
In view of the increasing demand of millets such as Kodo, Kutki, Ragi in the country and abroad, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has given instructions to promote millet production in the state on a mission mode. He has said that millet is produced on a large-scale in the state. Collection, processing and value addition to millets can generate employment opportunities and good income for farmers, women’s groups and youth. Chief Minister gave these instructions while addressing the review meeting of Forest Department, held at his residence office today.
Chief Minister has said that by increasing the cultivation area and production of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi and by preparing various products through processing, the consumption of millets can be increased in the state. In Chhattisgarh, Kodo, Kutki and Ragi are produced in some areas of Rajnandgaon, Kawardha and Bemetara and Surguja including Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Jagdalpur, Dantewada and Sukma. Baghel said that to increase the production of millets, improved farming should be promoted by identifying millet clusters in selected development blocks. Women self-help groups should be linked with the cultivation of millets. Mr. Baghel also asked to include dishes prepared from Kodo, Kutki and Ragi in the dishes of Gadhkaleva.
Chief Minister has also given instructions to ensure arrangements for marketing of millets and millet products. Small processing units should be set up in the millet-producing villages and packaging units should be set up in one or two centers, while adhering to the hygiene standards.
To provide nutritious food to children and women in Anganwadi centers in Kodo, Kutki and Ragi production areas, Kodo khichdi and Ragi pudding are being provided. Apart from this, products like Ragi Laddu, Kodo, Kutki Murku, Poha can also be prepared from it, which can be used in Anganwadi Centers and Mid Day Meal Programme. An initiative is being taken by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation to take cooperation from the Indian Institute of Millet Research Hyderabad to promote the production of millet.