ITANAGAR, Sep 18: A day-long programme on International Year of Millets 2023 cum Campaign on Nutri-Garden and tree plantation was organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Papum Pare at Balapu village under Sagalee sub-division of the district on Friday.

The UN General Assembly recently adopted the resolution, sponsored by India under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and supported by more than 70 countries, declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The resolution intends to increase public awareness on the health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under tough conditions marked by climate change.

KVK Subject Matter Specialist (Agronomy) Tadang Meena spoke on the nutritional importance of millets and encouraged the farmers to resume the cultivation of millets in the area.

SMS (Horticulture) Hemanta Ngangbam highlighted the importance various nutritional requirements of the human body and urged the participants to undertake Nutri-Garden to meet the nutritional requirement and to do away with various nutritional deficiency, while SMS (Fishery) Dr V Safi suggested farmers to take up various agri & allied activities in scientific way to double their income.

Senior scientist & head of the Kendra, HGB and Panchayat leaders also encouraged the participants to take advantage of scientific techniques and avail various schemes under agri and allied sectors implemented by the Central and State governments for doubling their income and to become Atma Nirbhar in the days to come.

After the technical session, inputs such as farm implements, mushroom spawn, 100 packets of nutritionally important seeds, one quintal of lime for fish ponds, livestock medicines like mineral mixers, dewormer and more than 100 saplings were distributed to the farmers.