Supporting millets means supporting tribals, says IIMR CEO, Dr. B. Dayakar Rao

In an exclusive interview to ETV Bharat, the CEO of the Indian Institute of Millets Research, IIMR, Dr. B. Dayakar Rao said that the government is supporting millets, which means it is directly supporting the tribals.

Raipur:Days after Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the Millet Mission, the CEO of the Indian Institute of Millets Research, IIMR, Dr. B. Dayakar Rao said that the government is supporting millets, which means it is directly supporting the tribals.

Speaking to ETV Bharat at the Millets Carnival in Raipur, Dr. Rao said, "The Chhattisgarh government has done an amazing job while supporting the millet mission. Supporting millet farming means supporting the tribals. Due to this, the income of the tribals is increasing. The tribals should be trained about the knowledge of capacity building, training, branding, etc as they have no idea about these things."

"Once the tribal will be trained, they will be able to sell their products. Initially, farmers did not sell the products, instead, they used to cultivate and consume the products themselves. In today's era, considering its nutritional value, health benefits, and climate-resilient, it has become a means of earning money," he said.

"The state government announced giving a minimum support price. The benefit of the new policy of the government will be seen in the coming days. The farmer's income level will increase. Millets have many benefits. It has calcium, magnesium, and iron," Rao said.

"The contribution of IIMR is that when no one used to discuss millet, although now its production is increasing, but when there are no people to consume it, then what is the meaning of its cultivation? In such a situation, we are changing the views of people and making people aware to increase their demand. There was a huge gap in production and demand and it took us 10 years to fill those gaps," he added.