Free rice policy changes could lead to famine, preserving millet important — DC Rutsa

DIMAPUR — DC Tuensang Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa stated on Wednesday that if the policy of giving free and subsidised rice changes, there is a possibility of famine, and it is, therefore, important to preserve and cultivate more millet.

Rutsa, who was speaking at a one-day district-level awareness programme commemorating the International Year of Millet (millet festival), organised by the Department of Agriculture, Tuensang, with the theme ‘harnessing millet for food security and sustainable agriculture’ at Tuensang’s Town Hall, encouraged the gathering to preserve millet grain and cultivate those that are preferable for the type of soil in the region.

Speaking of the “Millet Queen of India,” Lahiri Bai, who preserved more than 150 varieties of millets at her home, Rutsa said that it is a ‘rich man’s food’ because it is not readily available in the market and that, in terms of millet, the Eastern Nagaland region is rich in it.

She also lauded the officers and staff of the Department of Agriculture for their hard work for the farmers of the district, as well as for conducting various awareness programmes, and urged farmers to take advantage of them.

Earlier, T Supongmar Longchar, district agriculture officer, stated in his keynote address that this is a revival for millet in Tuensang and a history in the making for Nagaland, which begins in Tuensang.

Mongkucholen, Tuensang’s agriculture officer, gave a PowerPoint presentation highlighting millet cultivation on the occasion.

He talked about the benefits of millet production and the cultivation practices of millet in Tuensang district. He revealed that millet cultivation is practised in 10 villages in Tuensang and seven villages in Longkhim. He also highlighted several activities carried out by the department, such as awareness campaigns and seed distribution.

On the occasion, a millet recipe competition and a maximum millet production competition – individual and village categories – were also held.

Chingmei village received a certificate, a cash prize, and one millet processing machine for harvesting more than 13,000 tins of millet in the maximum millet production category.

Chipensenyen SHG of Tuensang town won first place in the millet recipe competition, followed by Moutshou SHG of Chendang village and Khanyang Sao of Chingmelen village. Millet Sisters of Chingmei village and Ophai Doyang SHG of Kejok village received consolation prizes.

Sejang of Chingmei village (57 tins) won first place in the maximum millet production under the individual category, followed by M Khumla of Chendang village (41 tins) and B Nokching of Waoshu village (32 tins).

Village council members, SHG members, and other dignitaries attended the event, where Rutsa also inaugurated exhibition stalls.

Also read: District-level Science fair held in Tuensang