Arunachal Pradesh to start cultivation of millet soon

Itanagar: The College of Horticulture and Forestry (CHF), Pasighat in collaboration with the Siang district agriculture department has launched a 'Millet Cultivation Project' at the remote Riga village in Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh.

The millet growing project is sponsored by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research run Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) in Hyderabad to increase the production of millet in the northeastern region.

Professor of College of Horticulture and Forestry (CHF) of Agronomy department, Paban Kumar Gaudar said that the objective of the project is to popularise millet cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh and make locals aware that the cereal can be consumed as a staple food too.

Millet is a cereal which is rich in protein and minerals besides having anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic (cancer preventive) elements and qualities.

The fertile red soil and the atmospheric conditions of the Siang region are suitable for the growth as well as the cultivation of different varieties of Millets.

Professor Gaudar said, "The people of the Northeast use millets in preparing alcoholic drinks and we are working to make the farmers aware that it is a staple food".

"Commercial cultivation of the cereal crop is highly beneficial," he added.

Millets cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh covers only 20% to 30% of the total cropped area, however, the project aims to increase it to 70% to 80%.

Professor Gaudar further added, "We target to cover 30 hectares of cultivable land in seven selected districts in the first phase".

A day-long training programme on millets cultivation was also organised during which agriculture scientists imparted farmers on the economic importance of millets with reference to their food and medicinal values; and how it has cancer-preventive qualities.

The participants had also learned about the cultivation and safe harvesting procedures of millets during the training programme for the cultivation of millets.

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