Imphal: Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey inaugurated a two-day Regional Convention of North East States on the Available Millets in the North Eastern Region of Bharat and its Benefit in Nutrition, Mid-Day Meal (MDM), Anganwadis and Take Home Raashan held at College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (CAU), here on Tuesday.
It is jointly organised by Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), New Delhi.
The Governor inspected the exhibition stalls set up at the venue and lauded the efforts of the participants for introducing millet-based products which invariably contribute to a healthy life.
Addressing the gatherings, the Governor said given the increasing importance of millets, there is a need to discuss the role of millets in the present times. Millets have a long history in ancient Indian civilisation. It has been a staple food in many cultures for thousands of years. She mentioned that millets have gained popularity due to their high nutritional value and sustainability. Earlier, it was considered to be the main food of the poor and tribal people, but now it is widely used even in five-star hotels for its high nutritional value.
The Governor further said millet diet can be a nutritious food option for children as it can enhance the brain development and overall growth of children and also solve the problem of malnutrition in children. She said such regional conferences will provide a platform for dialogue among all stakeholders to promote the use of millet in improving child nutrition and develop collaborative work.
Due to its high value, the Government of India declared 2018 as the National Year of Millets and the United Nations General Assembly in its 7th session declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the Governor added.
While sharing her experience in varied fields, Governor stressed the importance of healthy lifestyles to continue in various aspects of life and also shared her beliefs in organic foods, and naturopathy for a healthy life. She urged all to stay healthy to make the nation healthy.
Dr. Anupam Mishra, VC CAU, Dr Ng. Iboyaima Singh, Dean, College of Food Technology, CAU, and other officials also participated during the programme.