Sensitisation on benefits of millets held at Longmatra

DIMAPUR — As part of International Year of Millet and Poshan Abhiyaan month, a sensitisation programme on the benefits of millets was held at Longmatra village under Longmatra block, Kiphire, on September 8.

The programme was organised by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU) Longmatra, with Temjenna Jamir, SMS, DAMU KVK, Kiphire, and Tethsomong, DFS NSRLM, as resource persons, an update stated.

The resource persons spoke on ‘Importance of millets and its health benefits’ and ‘Types of millets and its value addition,’ respectively.

Jamir explained that millet is a low maintenance and drought-resistant grain and thus there are very less chances of loss during its seasons.

She also said that millet provides various health benefits and has multiple uses in cooking.

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“Millions of people can rely on it for food and income because it is grown for both food and fodder purposes, making it an important part of farming's economic efficiency.

Millets are also considered as super food due to its wide nutritional benefits in our diet, they are gluten free and thus easily digestible, not only that they are used to control diabetes, cholesterol levels and also reduces inflammation. It stays in our system for long and thus is used as substitute instead of other cereals like rice for weight loss,” she said.

Tethsomong, in his power point presentation, highlighted the different types of millet. He said that foxtail millets are mostly grown in Kiphire.

He also enumerated several value-added products of millet like biscuits, cakes, etc., and said that a wide range of value-added products can be prepared from millet.

“There are many types of millet which can be grown with less drudgery as compared to other crops. Poverty elevation starts in the mind. Once you train your mind, even millet cultivation can serve as a source of good livelihood income,” he said.

Meanwhile, to encourage the community, the BMMU Longmatra also identified the SHG members with maximum production of millet and awarded them with certificates and prizes.