LG Sinha Calls for Wider Millet Cultivation to Strengthen Farmers and Build Sustainable Food Systems
JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated the National Dialogue on “Millets for Health: Building Healthy Ecosystems, Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems” at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said millets had been part of India's agricultural heritage for centuries and called for their revival as an important component of healthy diets, sustainable agriculture and rural economic development.
“Millets were part of our agricultural memory for centuries. The time has now come to restore them to the consciousness of society,” Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed gratitude to Padma Shri Dr Khadar Vali, popularly known as the “Millet Man of India”, and Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission for their efforts to promote millet cultivation and create awareness about its benefits in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the event was not merely a seminar but reflected a wider movement rooted in India's traditional agricultural practices and aimed at reconnecting traditional knowledge with modern scientific research.
Referring to the global challenges posed by climate change, Sinha said food systems of the future would have to address nutritional needs, farmer profitability and environmental sustainability.
“Countries across the world that are facing the challenge of climate change are also realising that the food of the future will not merely be food that can be produced in large quantities. It will have to be nutritious, profitable for farmers and sustainable for the planet,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the traditional role of millets, including sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, kodo millet, little millet, foxtail millet and barnyard millet, in sustaining farming communities. He noted that these crops can grow under relatively difficult climatic conditions and generally require less water and agricultural inputs than several other crops.
He said the relevance of this traditional knowledge was increasingly being examined through scientific research, particularly in the context of climate change and sustainable agriculture.
Highlighting the significance of millet cultivation for Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said more than 80 per cent of farmers in the region are small and marginal farmers and many remain vulnerable to weather-related risks.
“I see the Millets Mission as the greatest hope for the smallest farmer in our villages. Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan, we prepared a strategy three to four years ago to ensure the health of future generations, the prosperity of our farmers and the protection of our earth,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said millet cultivation could provide marginal farmers with an additional avenue for diversification and help reduce risks associated with farming.
“I believe that millet cultivation can give marginal farmers in Jammu Kashmir a new sense of confidence while also helping reduce the risks associated with farming,” he said, adding that the contribution of small landholders to a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir remained significant.
Sinha also highlighted the nutritional value of millets, referring to their dietary fibre, low glycaemic index and nutrients such as iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. He urged people to incorporate traditional millet-based foods, including bajra rotis, ragi preparations and barnyard millet rice, into their diets.
The Lieutenant Governor said the promotion of millet-based enterprises could also create opportunities for women’s self-help groups, young entrepreneurs and farmers. He stressed the importance of value addition, packaging and branding to develop a stronger millet-based economy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to national production, he said India produced around 18 million tonnes of millets in 2024–25 and accounted for about 38 per cent of global production, underscoring the scope for developing value-added millet products and expanding market opportunities.
He called upon farmers, researchers, medical professionals, entrepreneurs and citizens to work towards making food systems more diverse, nutritious, sustainable and resilient.
“I call upon every household to give millet products a place on their plate and strengthen farmers, empower women, and ensure a healthier future for generations,” Sinha said.
He also called for taking awareness about millets to rural areas, describing them as not only part of Jammu and Kashmir’s agricultural heritage but also a potential component of its future agricultural and rural economy.
During the event, the Lieutenant Governor released several publications, including A Laboratory Manual on Soil Microbiology, Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing, and Package of Practices for Minor Millets.
Padma Shri Dr Khadar Vali, SKUAST Jammu Vice Chancellor Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Kheti Virasat Mission Executive Director Umendra Dutt, Dr Anjani Kumar of IFPRI, SKUAST Jammu Director Research Prof. S.K. Gupta, experts, policymakers, researchers, senior officials, progressive farmers, agri-preneurs, members of Self-Help Groups, faculty members and students attended the inaugural session. ANB
