Dhamtari, January 5 (IANS). Millet Festival was organized on Monday in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh. Millet Man of India Padmashree Dr. Khadar Wali participated in this event. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the farmers of the district regarding his visit.
Dr. Khadar Wali gave such a message to the farmers, which can not only prove helpful in increasing their income, but is also a big step towards freeing the society from many serious diseases.
On this occasion, an important meeting was organized with the farmers at Dhamtari Collector Office, in which the importance of traditional farming and desi millets i.e. coarse grains was discussed in detail.
During the meeting, Padmashree Dr. Khadar Wali said that today people are consuming excessive amounts of wheat and rice, which is becoming the root cause of many diseases. If ancient millets like jowar, bajra, ragi, kodo and kutki are included in the diet, the body will get nourishment naturally and there will be no need to visit the doctor frequently.
Dr. Wali advised farmers to return to traditional and local crops, as these crops are not only beneficial for health but can also give higher profits at lower costs.
Along with the meeting, a grand millet exhibition was also organized in the Collectorate premises, in which various nutritious products made from Kodo and Kutki were displayed. Through this exhibition, it was explained to the farmers that good income can be earned in the market by making not only raw grains but also value added products from millets. Farmers who arrived in large numbers from across the district appreciated this initiative and pledged to promote millet production.
Dr. Khadar Wali said that the need of the hour is to give up excessive dependence on wheat and rice and adopt superfoods like jowar, millet and ragi. He called it a permanent solution for both health and farming. This initiative of the administration is not only expected to bring positive changes in the eating habits of the people, but is also expected to strengthen the rural economy.
It is believed that this visit of Dr. Khadar Wali will start a new revolution in the field of health and agriculture in Dhamtari district.
Farmer Lalram Chandrakar, while talking to IANS, appreciated the millet program organized by the district administration and agriculture department. He said that the information given by Padmashree Dr. Khadar Wali is very useful. Lalram told that in earlier times, coarse grains were used regularly, due to which people remained healthy and diseases remained away. This coarse grain used to be the main diet of the people.
He said that in today’s era, if we include coarse grains in our diet again, then many diseases can definitely be avoided. As a farmer, he told that he himself produces coarse grains in his field and now on the basis of this information, he will make other farmers aware about the cultivation of coarse grains and its use.
–IANS
ASH/ABM
