Superfood millets could make to the Golden Temple’s langar
If all goes as planned, the highly nutritious millets could become a part of the meal (langar) being served at the community kitchen for devotees in the Golden Temple, said Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission
If all goes as planned, the highly nutritious millets could become a part of the meal being served at the community kitchen for devotees in the Golden Temple, said Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission.
“We have been invited by Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to give representation on the food items which could be served to the devotees partaking the langar,” Dutt said.
Dutt, along with the farmers who are successfully growing millets, was here to celebrate The International Year of Millets 2023. He urged both the Centre as well as state government to fix a minimum support price (MSP) for the crop.
He also urged the government to lift the produce of the millet crop to encourage farmers for cultivating the crop.
He said that the cultivation of millets, including Kodra, Swank, Kangni, Kutki, Ragi, Bajra, Jowar, could arrest the problem of the declining water table of the state. “The amount of water used for irrigating one acre of land of rice crop is enough to irrigate the millet crop for 26 years,” said Dutt.
Dutt said that, as a pilot project, they have made a list of 200 schools from across the state where special workshops will be held to teach parents and teachers on how to prepare meals using millets.
Balmit Kaur, principal of DPS Ludhiana, said, “We have four branches and decided that lunch prepared with millets would be offered in the meal of students twice a week,”
The media interaction programme was organised by Central Bureau of Communication, Chandigarh and Press Information Bureau, Chandigarh.
Dutt said, “Millets are now no longer seen as fringe crops. They are competing with wheat and rice cyclical agriculture. They can also reduce our carbon footprint.”
While speaking on the issue of stubble burning, he said, “Millet stalk is a very good fodder for cattle. Thus, farmers don’t burn these. This is a possible solution to Punjab’s stubble burning problem.”
Rajender Chaudhry, ADG, PIB Chandigarh said, “Declaration of the year of 2023 as the International Year of Millets by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become a game changer in times to come. Today’s young population is witnessing many health-related issues from an early age. Consumption of millets can help fight these health issues. Millets have low glycaemic index, high protein value and are gluten free. They can also aid to weight loss.”
