Dimapur, July 7 (EMN): A farmers’ awareness programme was organised by the Department of GPB, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Medziphema, in collaboration with State Agricultural Station, Yisemyong, Mokokchung, on July 5 in Yisemyong village.
In a press release, department of GPB, SASRD, informed that the joint director of SARS, Temsiunla, has urged the farmers to recognise the adverse effects of climate change. She stated that farmers need to alter agricultural practices so as to mitigate the ill effects of global climate change in agricultural crops.
The assistant professor and coordinator of millets scheme, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Shah, underscored the nutritional importance of millets. Dr. Shah stated that owing to richness in nutrition, millets have also been regarded as nutri-cereals. He pointed out that millets are high in dietary fibre, devoid of gluten and also good sources of minerals and vitamins which are needed for normal functioning of human being, the release stated.
He also gave a brief overview about the millets promotion scheme sanctioned to SASRD by ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad.
Shah further informed that a primary processing unit for millets is being set up at department of GPB, SASRD, NU, Medziphema, to facilitate initial processing and value addition of millets.
Senior scientist-cum-head of KVK, Yisemyong, Dr. Keviletsu Khate, and the assistant chief technical officer of KVK, Mokokchung, Dr. Tokiho Achumi, in their interaction with the farmers shared that millets are termed as “smart crops” since they are helpful in conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Dr. Achumi highlighted the importance of various millets with power point presentation, while Thepfukolie Kehie and Barbara Humtsoe delivered presentations on enhanced jhum composting and climate change.
A group of 60 farmers and farm women from nearby villages participated in the programme.
“Such programmes become more relevant in the light of the fact that based on the proposal of India, the UN General Assembly resolved to observe the year 2023 as International Year of Millets,” the release added.