On the 139th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi noted that the year 2023 was celebrated as the ‘International Year of Millets’ at India’s call. The Prime Minister underlined that the initiative received a very positive response globally and also provided an opportunity to the citizens to discover how deeply millets are rooted in the country’s own culture. Mr Modi also spoke about a village called Khanduli in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, where millets have been an integral part of food culture over many generations. He said that the number of farmers cultivating millets had been on the decline for some time, but two women from the village undertook the new initiative of creating new products from millets. He added that they developed items such as cookies, cakes, and muffins, as well as baby food, leading to an increase in the sales of millet-based products and a subsequent rise in the demand for millets themselves.
The Prime Minister also talked about Chekjing Sangma, a local farmer in the village of Sadolpara, from West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. He noted that recognising the importance of millets, Chekjing Sangma started cultivating them using modern methods, which has not only increased his income but has also fostered greater awareness within the village. The Prime Minister said these examples demonstrate how India’s youth are linking traditional crops with new opportunities, and how villages are advancing on the path to prosperity while preserving their heritage.
