The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) today organized a ‘Millets FPO Exhibition’ for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to promote the consumption of Millets or ‘Shri Anna’ among the Central Armed Police Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. What did At the BSF camp in Chawala, New Delhi.
More than 30 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from across the country showcased a variety of products including raw millet grains, ready-to-cook (RTC) items, and ready-to-eat (RTE) products in front of nearly 1,000 attendees. ) including products etc. from various paramilitary forces.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Faiz Ahmed Qadwai, Additional Secretary, DA&FW with a ribbon cutting ceremony. He was accompanied by Maninder Kaur, Additional Secretary, DA&FW and Shobha Thakur, JS (Cripps), DA&FW.
In his opening speech, Faiz Ahmed Qadwai, AS, DA&FW, highlighted how more than 75,000 FPOs are working to support smallholder farmers with resources and market connections. He pointed out that 34 millet FPOs from Rajasthan, UP, MP, and Haryana had gathered for this mega event which aimed to showcase the variety of millet products in the country and prepare for future procurement. Direct linkages were to be established with APF canteens and departmental stores.
Shobha Thakur, JS (Cripps), DA&FW, thanked the paramilitary forces for their eagerness to embrace the tide. He also appreciated the 34 FPOs for exhibiting millet products and hoped for fruitful cooperation between millet FPOs and paramilitary forces.
The exhibition served as an opportunity for FPOs to interact directly with the armed forces and their families, introducing them to a wide array of home-grown, millet-based products. .
Additionally, Procurement Officers and Cooks/Cooks also got an opportunity to witness the diversity of products, ease of procurement of millets and linkages with FPOs for future procurement for their respective units during the exhibition.
Earlier this year, the Home Ministry took a landmark decision to introduce 30 per cent millet in the diet of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel.
Coinciding with the International Year of Sorghum, the decision was aimed at promoting sorghum as an energy-rich food choice for paramilitary personnel and supporting their physically demanding routines, as the fiber in millets, Contains minerals and essential nutrients.
In August 2023, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) also organized a cooking training session for over 250 cooks and cooks working with paramilitary forces, including the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF). ), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) ), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, and various government canteens. The successful training session exposed the participants to various millet-based recipes, ranging from simple snacks to healthy meals, which they were keen to include in the daily menu of their canteen and mess facilities.
Over 34 Farmer Producer Organizations exhibited and sold their unique products to Commandants, Second in Commands, Quartermasters, Chefs/Cooks and their families during the exhibition. Among the highlights of the exhibition were ready-to-eat products like Foxtail Millet Khakhra, Bajra Cookies, Jowar Ladoos, Millet Rusk, Ragi Namkeen, Cakes etc. The guests were not only impressed by the wonderful versatility of the ready-to-eat millet. based sweets and savouries, but they expressed keen interest in learning more about millet flour and ready-to-cook items, such as ragi idli mix, jowar upma, and millet noodles to incorporate into their daily diet. join
Live cooking counters were also set up for officers and jawans to sample various millet-based dishes like Jowar Pasta with Vegetables and Mayonnaise Cream, Finger Millet (Ragi) Noodles with Steamed Vegetables, Jowar Pongal Yogurt. Along, millet. Chach, Angli Jowar (Ragi) Ladoos with Dry Fruit Mix, Jowar Siwai, Pearl Bajra (Bajra) Puff Snacks etc.
Adding to the celebration of jowar at the exhibition were selfie booths shaped like jowar, ragi and pearl millet. These selfie booths, designed to represent a ‘happy family’, were a huge hit with the families of the youngsters.
First Published: 06 Oct 2023, 16:52 IST