Bhagalpur, January 16 (IANS). The impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to promote the production and consumption of millets in the country is now visible at the ground level. In this series, agricultural scientists of Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, Bhagalpur have developed a new and nutritious product based on millets.
University scientists have launched noodles made from ragi and jowar in the form of ‘Nutri Tiffin Box’, which is said to be very beneficial from health point of view.
BAU Vice Chancellor Dr. D.R. Singh said that an appeal will be made to the state government to connect this product to the market, so that it can be disseminated through the Jeevika Didis of Bihar.
He said that if this Nutri Tiffin Box is included in the mid-day meal scheme of schools, the nutritional level of children can improve significantly. Noodles made from ragi and jowar are rich in nutrition and fiber, which can prove beneficial not only for children but also for the elderly and patients.
On the same occasion, BAU Vice Chancellor also displayed a bottle of Neera made from dates, which was recently launched by the Governor of Bihar. He told that more than one crore palm and date trees are present in Bihar and the population of Pasi community is also more than 10 lakh. While Neera production will provide a strong base of livelihood to this society, the consumers will also benefit from the medicinal properties of Neera.
While talking to the media, Dr. DR Singh expressed concern over the current food habits and said that today there is a lot of availability of processed food like noodles in the market, which contain high amount of flour, while there is a lack of fiber and protein. Most of the families give such food items in breakfast or lunch box to children, which are not good for their health. Keeping this in mind, scientists of Bihar Agricultural University were working on preparing noodles made from millets for the last two years and now they have got success in it.
He told that this millets noodles prepared from ragi and jowar will be known as ‘Nutri Tiffin Box’. It has high amount of protein and fiber, besides its color and taste is also better.
Dr. Singh said that this technology should be made available to as many people as possible. If Jeevika Didis are associated with it then its effective marketing is possible. Also, if it is included in the mid-day meal scheme of schools across the country, the health of children will improve. He demanded from the Bihar government that this technology should be adopted and linked to the mid-day meal scheme, so that every section of the society can benefit.
–IANS
ASH/ABM
