Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated Shri Anna Mahotsav 2023 at Survey Stadium, Hathibarkala on Saturday. Thousands of farmers from all over the state are participating in this Shri Anna Mahotsav which lasts for four days. On this occasion, the Chief Minister inspected various stalls based on millets and released the book “Health with Taste” based on nutritious crops of Agriculture Department, Uttarakhand.
Addressing a huge gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that today’s event would prove to be a milestone in the promotion of ‘Shri Anna’. Such events will not only encourage the cultivation of millets, but also provide necessary information related to millets to the farmers. The year 2023 is being celebrated as “Millets Year” in the country. He said that due to the guidance and foresight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today the whole world is understanding the importance of traditional crops of our country. On India’s proposal, the United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The Chief Minister said that “Shri Anna” is not limited to farming or eating only, where there is “Shri” there is prosperity, there is inclusiveness and there is victory. That’s why the Prime Minister has given Millets the name of “Shri Anna”. Along with nutritional elements, medicinal properties are also found in Shri Anna crops.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the state government is working to encourage millet cultivation in the hilly areas of the state through government schemes to encourage farmers and provide employment. Coarse grains like Mandwa, Jhingora, Chaulai are being procured from the farmers of the hilly districts of the state at minimum support price as well as online payment is being made to the farmers. This is not only increasing the income of farmers, but also encouraging farmers to produce millet products.
The Chief Minister said that an amount of about Rs 73 crore has been given to the State Millet Mission by the government to encourage millet crops and include them in the food of common people. Along with organic agriculture, the implementation of the National Natural Agriculture Mission scheme is being started in 11 districts of the state from this year. For this, approval has also been granted by the Government of India to run an agricultural mission program of about 796 lakhs on 6400 hectares of land. In the state, a target has been set to cover maximum agricultural area of the state under natural agriculture through “Chief Minister Natural Agriculture Scheme” and Namami Gange Natural Agriculture Corridor Scheme. It is also proposed to set up a “State Natural Agriculture Board” for regular monitoring and planning to encourage natural farming. He has appealed to the people of the state to include Shri Anna in folk festivals and festivals.
On this occasion, Uttar Pradesh’s Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that Shree Anna was cultivated in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand since ancient times. Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has been the capital of coarse grains. It is a commendable effort to take Manduve from farmers in the state on MSP and for this, arrangements have been made to give incentives to the women of women self-help groups. He said that today the world is understanding the importance of food. Nutritious foods are also being promoted fast in Uttar Pradesh.
State Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, continuous work is being done in the field of millets in the state. The production of food grains is increasing in the state. The MSP of Manduve has been kept at Rs 35.78 paise in the state so that the farmers get good price for the production of coarse grains. An incentive of Rs 1.50 per kg has been arranged for women self-help groups for taking mandua from farmers at MSP. By 2025, a target has been set to make 1.25 lakh sisters of the state Lakhpati Didi. Good work is also being done in the state in the field of organic farming. For this, Uttarakhand has got the first prize for two consecutive years. In the field of aroma too, work is going on fast in the state. A provision of Rs 35 crore has been made for the Apple Mission and Rs 20 crore for the Kiwi Mission. A target has been set to double the production in the field of millets and horticulture by 2025.
On this occasion, MLA Savita Kapoor, Brij Bhushan Gairola, Suresh Gadia, President of Kisan Commission Rakesh Rajput, President of Kisan Morcha Jogendra Singh Pundir, District President of BJP Mr. Siddharth Agarwal, Secretary Agriculture B.V.R.C. Purushottam, Director Agriculture Gauri Shankar And farmers from all over the state were present.
