Millet Fest Exhibits Healthy Alternatives to the Public

Millet Fest-2015, organised by the department of agriculture, Government of Telangana at the People's Plaza, Hyderabad was widely welcomed by health-conscious people as well as the general public in large numbers.

Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) and the College of Home Science organised the event to popularise usage of millets among the general public. The fest offers a whole range of millet based products with the main idea of sensitising urban and rural communities on the benefits of incorporating millets into their daily diet.

Millet fest is a perfect destination for people looking out for healthy food products with more than 50 stalls offering various millet-based products. The Home Science College, Millet Processing and Incubation Centre, Directorate of Sorghum Research, Krishi Vignan Kendras developed the products offered at the fest.

Food items like multigrain flour (atta), roti, rava, noodles which are used on a daily basis and specialised food items like malt, flakes, cookies, extruded snacks made with millets like jowar, ragi (finger millet), bajra (pearl millet), varigalu ,(proso millet) and korra (foxtail) are available at the fest.

S. Srividya, a home maker, said after placing an order for a jowar and ragi flour at a stall, "It is also interesting to know that even items like atta and rava which we use daily are available in different combinations like jowar, foxtail. Millet fest has introduced us to many healthy alternatives."

"Millets are rich in fibre and micro nutrients. As a result they are ideal for preventing lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, among others. People are suffering from various diseases today due to changing eating habits. As millets are a lot healthier when compared to wheat and rice, including millets in the diet can prevent many diseases. Millet fest is an effort in that direction," said Anurag Chaturvedi, Dean of Home Sciences College.

Telangana Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said, "The government will do everything required to popularise the cultivation of millets and provide marketing support to different food items made of millets, apart from leveraging the benefits extended by the Centre under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM)."

He urged the farmers to cultivate millets as the Government of India has approved an allocation of Rs.7.14 crore for the year 2014-15.

Source: Medindia