ICAR-CCARI conducted training programme on value addition of millets

    A training programme was organized on the value addition of millets by ICAR-CCARI at KVK, North Goa, on 14^th Feb. 2023. As a part of the training programme, hands-on-training to prepare various value-added products of millets like ‘Ragi Idli’, ‘Jowar Idli’, ‘Little millet upma’, ‘Finger millet barfi’ was done and also various other products were demonstrated. About 50 farm women from the tribal farming community of Barcem, Quepem, South Goa and comprising of 10 self-help groups participated in the training programme. Under scheduled tribe component (STC), the beneficiary farm women were also given required utensil and accessories such as an idli cooker, kadai, frying spoon, measuring cup and hand gloves that are required to take up the value-addition in millets. During the valedictory function, Chief Guest Dr. A. Raizada, Director I/C and Section In-charge, NRM section emphasized the importance of the cultivation of millets and its value-addition. He further guided the beneficiaries and trainees on how initiatives could be taken up to form SHG-based cultivation and value-addition in the millet. Mrs. Sunetra Talaulikar, SMS (Home Science), KVK North Goa, spoke on the importance of millets in our diet and briefed about the celebration of 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’. Dr. Parmesha V., Scientist & Nodal Officer (STC), highlighted the role of STC in the promotion of the millet cultivation and value-addition and urged the beneficiaries to utilize the given inputs to start the value addition in millets produced by themselves. Dr. Gopal Mahajan, Sr. Scientist & Nodal Officer for ‘International Year of Millets’ explained the nutritional benefits of millets and the future activities under the celebration. Shri HRC Prabhu, Senior Scientist and Head I/C, KVK, North Goa, in his welcome address asked the participants to take the benefits of different activities of KVK and the Institute. Collaborative efforts of the SHGs and Institute were discussed to promote cultivation of the millets by the beneficiaries as a community farming and processing the same for further marketing. Mr. Rahul Kulkarni, ACTO, ICAR-CCARI, North Goa, compered the programme and proposed the vote of thanks.