<p>India, the largest producer of millets in the world, will launch an intensive campaign to promote the ‘nutri-cereal’ across the country starting from September 28, in Pune.</p>.<p><span>At a meeting held at the Indian Institute of Millets Research in Hyderabad to prepare a roadmap for the national millet mission, </span><span>Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO of the National Rainfed Area Authority, announced the campaign. </span></p>.<p>It was aid that the Union agriculture minister will formally flag off the campaign for the National Year of Millets, which will be followed by a number of activities over the next few months.</p>.<p>Calling it a ‘historic’ day, Dr Dalwai said “ The mission will include focus on resource-poor farmers and the nutrition status of the country. However, we should ensure that the national campaign retains the advantages of millets as climate-smart and environment-friendly crop. Our decisions can lead to a new Green Revolution.” </p>.<p>Announcing plans for seed hubs for all millets, with Dr. B Rajender, Joint Secretary National Food Security Mission, said “The state governments will be involved in a big way, both for nutrition security, not just income security. Also there will be communication plans rolled out at the district and the local level to scale up this campaign.”</p>.<p>Dr Vilas A Tonapi, Director of Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), shared data on how the productivity of millets has shown good increase across the country, in spite of pressure on land.</p>.<p>The activities through the year would be spearheaded by IIMR in partnership with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), State Agricultural Universities (SAU), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and many other non-governmental, private and international organizations.</p>.<p>Dr B Dayakar Rao, Principal Scientist at IIMR, has prepared details of the roadmap for India’s Year of Millets.</p>
<p>India, the largest producer of millets in the world, will launch an intensive campaign to promote the ‘nutri-cereal’ across the country starting from September 28, in Pune.</p>.<p><span>At a meeting held at the Indian Institute of Millets Research in Hyderabad to prepare a roadmap for the national millet mission, </span><span>Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO of the National Rainfed Area Authority, announced the campaign. </span></p>.<p>It was aid that the Union agriculture minister will formally flag off the campaign for the National Year of Millets, which will be followed by a number of activities over the next few months.</p>.<p>Calling it a ‘historic’ day, Dr Dalwai said “ The mission will include focus on resource-poor farmers and the nutrition status of the country. However, we should ensure that the national campaign retains the advantages of millets as climate-smart and environment-friendly crop. Our decisions can lead to a new Green Revolution.” </p>.<p>Announcing plans for seed hubs for all millets, with Dr. B Rajender, Joint Secretary National Food Security Mission, said “The state governments will be involved in a big way, both for nutrition security, not just income security. Also there will be communication plans rolled out at the district and the local level to scale up this campaign.”</p>.<p>Dr Vilas A Tonapi, Director of Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), shared data on how the productivity of millets has shown good increase across the country, in spite of pressure on land.</p>.<p>The activities through the year would be spearheaded by IIMR in partnership with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), State Agricultural Universities (SAU), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and many other non-governmental, private and international organizations.</p>.<p>Dr B Dayakar Rao, Principal Scientist at IIMR, has prepared details of the roadmap for India’s Year of Millets.</p>