Lakhipuronline Digital Desk : On February 27, 2023, Shri. Rohan Kumar Jha, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar district, inaugurated NABARD Assam R.O.’s Model Millet Project at Binnakandi Block, Cachar district. The inauguration programme, held at P.K. College, Singerband, was attended by Sri Yubraj Borthakur, ADC (Agriculture), Cachar, Rabishankar Likmabam, DDM NABARD Cachar, Dr. Rahul Chakroborty, SDAO, Lakhipur, Bhaskar Saikia, ADO Lakhipur, Krishi Ratna Shri Abhishek Kumar, Sangita Singha, Project Coordinator Yusuf Meherally Centre, Mumbai, and over 40 farmers.
Smt. Sangeeta, Project Coordinator Yusuf Meherally Centre, Mumbai, welcomed all the dignitaries and highlighted the project’s progress. Shri. Rabishankar Likmabam, DDM NABARD Cachar, informed the attendees that the year 2023 had been declared as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations following a proposal by India. In this regard, NABARD’s Assam Regional Office has sanctioned a Model Millet Project (MMP) to Yusuf Meherally Centre, Mumbai, for the Cachar district. The project aims to cultivate Foxtail Millet on 50 acres of land in Binnakandi Block, Cachar district, and will run for one year. The grant assistance provided by NABARD for the project is Rs. 15.36 lakhs out of the total project cost of Rs. 15.86 lakhs. NABARD has sanctioned 23 model millet projects in 23 districts of Assam, benefiting 1,150 farmers, and is in tune with the objectives and key focus of the Assam Millets Mission (AMM) of the Govt. of Assam.
Shri. Yuvraj Bhorthakur, ACS, ADC (agri) Cachar district, highlighted the health benefits of millets, its nutritional value, and the recipe of millets. He emphasized increasing farmers’ income through millet cultivation and mentioned that the Assam Govt. has published a Recipe Booklet for Millets, which will be shared with the farmers. Shri. Rohan Kumar Jha distributed Foxtail Millet seed to the farmers during the programme and underlined the importance of millet cultivation, organic cultivation, crop diversification, etc., for increasing farmers’ income.
Dr Rahul Chakraborty, SDAO Lakhipur, and Shri. Baskar Sakia, ADO Lakhipur, conducted a technical session on millet cultivation, and after the programme, the DC Cachar, along with all the dignitaries, visited the farmers’ fields. NABARD Assam R.O.’s Model Millet Project is an important initiative that aligns with the government’s efforts to promote millet cultivation and address the nutritional needs of the population, especially women and children.