Jammu Tawi, Sep 21: Asking farmers to embrace Millet cultivation as a pathway to self-reliance and resilience against climate change, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said that it (Millet cultivation) would boost the confidence of marginal farmers in Jammu Kashmir and will also help in reducing risks associated with farming.
After inaugurating the “National Dialogue on Millets for Health: Building Healthy Ecosystems, Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems” at SKUAST, Jammu, LG Sinha, while highlighting the relevance of millets for Jammu Kashmir, said, “Millets were part of our agricultural memory for centuries and the time has now come to restore them to the consciousness of society.”
He said, “Over 80% of the region’s farmers are small and marginal, dependent on uncertain weather. Millets, require less water and fewer inputs. It offers them confidence and sustainability. Farmers should embrace millet cultivation as a pathway to self-reliance and resilience against climate change.”
“I see the Millets Mission as the greatest hope for the smallest farmer in our villages. Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan, we prepared a strategy 3-4 years ago to ensure the health of future generations, the prosperity of our farmers and the protection of our earth,” LG Sinha said, adding, “I believe that millet cultivation can give marginal farmers in Jammu Kashmir a new sense of confidence while also helping reduce the risks associated with farming. On this occasion, I would like to tell all our marginal farmers that although the size of your landholding may be small, your contribution to building a self-reliant Jammu Kashmir can never be small.”
The Lieutenant Governor also emphasized the health benefits of millets, noting their dietary fibre, low glycaemic index, and rich nutrients such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. He called upon citizens to bring millet-based foods like bajra rotis, ragi dishes, and barnyard millet rice back to their plates to combat lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
On the economic front, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating a millet economy from farm to market. “With India producing 18 million tonnes of millets in 2024–25 and accounting for 38% of global production, the importance of value-added millet products is immense. We must encourage women’s self-help groups and young entrepreneurs in Jammu Kashmir to innovate with millet-based enterprises, packaging, and branding under initiatives like One District, One Product,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor urged all stakeholders including farmers, researchers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and citizens, to make food systems diverse, nutritious, sustainable, and resilient.