State experts advocate millet cultivation, consumption at Hyderabad convention

SHILLONG, Oct 20: Experts and stakeholders from Meghalaya conglomerated for the International Nutri Cereal Convention 6.0 in Hyderabad, promoting the cultivation and consumption of millets as a solution to global food and nutritional security challenges.
The convention, which culminated on Saturday, was attended by a 20-member delegation from Meghalaya, including agripreneurs, farmers, and officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food Processing.
The convention was organised by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR) and Nutrihub and was thematised on ‘Millet is not merely an option; it is a necessity’.
During the event, Dr. B. Dayakar Rao, CEO of Nutrihub at ICAR-IIMR, emphasised the significance of millet in ensuring both food and nutritional security amid global challenges.
Highlighting its role as a climate-resilient crop, he underlined its potential to address future food shortages.
The Meghalaya delegation, led by Executive Adviser and Chairman of the Farmer’s Commission, BK Sohliya, actively engaged in discussions focused on strengthening the millet value chain.
Sohliya invited stakeholders to collaborate in promoting millet cultivation in Meghalaya, while the state’s agripreneurs, startups and farmers explored ways to incorporate millet into their agricultural practices and processing industries.
The convention also recognised the ‘Decade of Millet’ and ‘Decade of Entrepreneurship’, which aim to drive both millet production and related business ventures.
“Meghalaya’s delegation gained insights into millet cultivation, processing, and market opportunities, inspired by their tour of Nutrihub facilities. This experience is expected to energize efforts to revive millet as a staple in Meghalaya’s agricultural landscape,” a statement in this regard said.