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Karnataka government is planning to introduce millet based mid-day meals in school government schools and in Indira Canteens.
“Currently, the deliberations are on to introduce millet based food weekly once in government schools and Indira canteens. Once the supply stabilises then it will be introduced on daily basis,” Dr G Parameshwara, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister said while speaking at the district-level Organic and Millets Mela held at Tumakuru.
“As children need nutritious food, the government has been considering including millet food weekly once in their mid-day meals. This will also encourage farmers who are into organic farming,” said Dr Parameshwara.
There's a need to set up millet processing units in every taluk and Dr Parameshwara instructed the district collector to submit a proposal in this regard.
He further noted that fertile lands are becoming fallow due to extensive use of chemical fertilisers and insecticides for the last 40 years.
Noticing this trend, the Minister said the government introduced organic farming policy in 2014 and has backed it by initiating many programmes to encourage the farmers to grow organic millet crops by going using organic manure.
Millets 2019 Fair
Bengaluru is to host ‘Organics and Millets 2019 Fair’ from January 18 to January 20.
Dr Parameshwara said that Karnataka's organic farming policy has set an example to the entire country. He further said that earlier foxtail millet, pearl millet and other kinds of millets were rarely opted for consumption and were reserved only for the poor.
“As these grains have been scientifically proven for its nutritious value, the Karnataka Government is organising Millet Fair in a large-scale to provide global market for the millets ,” he added.
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