Assam: Millet brand ‘Shree Naba Anna’ launched in Hojai

NAGAON: Following the successful harvesting of Foxtail millets and its processing, a separate brand of millets from Hojai district viz. ‘Shree Naba Anna’ was ceremonially launched by Lachit Kr Das, District Commissioner, Hojai, in presence of ADC Jayanta Bora, DDM-NABARD Rajendar Perna; DAO, Hojai, and others on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajendar Perna, DDM-NABARD, informed that on the basis of baseline survey conducted in the area, the project implementing agency Gramya Unnayan Sangstha, Hojai had mobilized over 50 farmers with minimum three bighas each and carried out the testing of soil contents. The identified farmers were provided vermicomposting units (25 Nos.) and other fertilizers. Apart from land preparation and capacity building training under the project, the beneficiaries were also provided with Foxtail millet seeds, super bags, one 3HP motor pulveriser machine and one dehusker-cum-polisher machine etc. Continuous support was provided to the beneficiaries by DDM, NABARD, Zonal Research Station, AAU, Department of Agriculture as per the suggestion of Assam Seed Corporation.

Mukut Daka from Gramya Unnayan Santha shared their experiences regarding the implementation of the project and appreciated the vision of NABARD for launching the Hojai district’s own brand of millets. The DAO, Hojai, R M Bhagawati shared the importance of the millets for the well-being of farm fields and the farmers and appreciated the efforts of NABARD and implementing agency for implementing the pilot project on millets in Hojai, as there was no programme on millets in Hojai from the Department of Agriculture. He said the department will always be available to extend all the support needed for the development of millet farmers and also the FPC in Hojai.

Hojai District Commissioner Lasit Das congratulated NABARD and the project implementing agency for successfully implementing the project and launching a separate brand of millets for the Hojai district. He also congratulated the Department of Agriculture for supporting the programme and farmers and also requested the bankers to come forward to extend the much-needed credit support so that more farmers can take up millet cultivation as well as processing activities and earn a better income.

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