NABARD Hosts Millet Conclave at ICAR-NAARM

The conclave's goal was to bring together stakeholders from across the millet value chain under one roof. More than 300 people attended the event, including senior dignitaries from technical institutes such as ICAR-NAARM, ICAR-IIMR, ICRISAT, ICAR-CRIDA, PJTSAU, APEDA, and millet entrepreneurs, Farmers Producers Companies, SHGs in Telangana, and startups.

Suseela Chinatala, CGM, NABARD, stated in her welcome address that NABARD plans to hold similar events across the country in 2023. In her speech, she emphasized various NABARD interventions on millets that are being implemented across India's rural landscape.

During his presidential address, Dr. Ch Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-NAARM, praised NABARD for organising such an important and timely event during the International Year of Millet 2023, which will help promote millet in the state. He advised farmers to band together in the FPO farm to get a better price for their produce. He emphasised the importance of bringing millet to schools in order to increase consumption of minor millets.

Dr. C Tara Satyavathi, Director, IIMR, addressed the millet value chain issues and emphasised the importance of announcing MSP for millet crops. She also emphasised IIMR's work in the millet value chain and in developing high yielding millets and hybrids.

Former Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU, Dr. Praveen Rao, has emphasised the significance of a millet-oriented lifestyle. He also stated that popularizing millets necessitates the collaboration of multiple stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of making these Climate Smart crops income smart.

Dr. Venkata Ramana, Director (Research, PJTSAU), stated that millets production has faced numerous challenges over the years and encouraged farmers and participants to grow millets.

The conclave also featured technical sessions from eminent speakers, as well as the launch of a book on the success stories of FPOs/SHGs supported by NABARD. Following that, NABARD recognized millet farmers, FPOs, and SHGs for their contributions to the millet value chain.

The event's main draw was the display of various millet products brought by farmers, FPOs, SHGs, start-ups, institutions such as PJTSAU, IIMR, NAARM, ICRISAT, aIDEA, AgHub, and entrepreneurs from across the state. All participants were served millet lunch.