Millet consists of ragi, jowar and some other cereals that have high nutritive value
In a bid to curb malnutrition and improve the lifestyle of its tribal population, the state has decided to promote millet cultivation in four tribal-dominated districts — Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Nashik.
The government has made an allocation of Rs 42 lakh for a special drive, Pragati Abhiyaan, to train tribals to grow millet — jowar, bajra, ragi.
The highly nutritious cereal is largely consumed by tribals who inhabit warm regions with poor soils. But the area under cultivation is rapidly falling due to crop damage by infectious diseases.
HIT CEREAL
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- Millet consists of ragi, jowar and some other cereals that have high nutritive value
- Calcium content of finger millet is eight times that of wheat and rice
- Its mineral content ranges from 1.7 to 4.3 g/100g, manifold higher than wheat (1.5%) and rice (0.6%)
- Pearl millet (bajra) is a rich source of iron
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Pragati Abhiyaan will supplement ongoing programmes to control malnutrition like national employment act MGNREGA, public distribution system and healthcare schemes.
To be implemented by the state tribal department, the drive hopes to revive cultivation of millet and finger millet in areas under PESA, or the Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled Areas Act, 1996.
An officer from the state tribal department told DNA, “The government has issued guidelines for effective implementation of the drive. Millets, also called nutri cereals, are also good sources of beta-carotene and B vitamins, especially riboflavin, niacin and folic acid.’’
The officer said promoting cultivation and consumption of ‘nutri cereals’ is important as 23% of children in 0-23 months age group were stunted, of whom 8% were severely so. Also, approximately 23% children were underweight of whom 7% were severely emaciated.
A recent Indian School of Business report observed that about 59% of preschool children, 61% of adolescent girls, 76% of pregnant women and 73% of lactating mothers in Maharashtra suffer from anaemia.
Mineral content of millet ranges from 1.7 to 4.3 g/100g which is manifold higher than wheat (1.5%) and rice (0.6%).
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 "Millet")
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