PAU HOLDS BRAINSTORMING MEET ON MILLETS
May16,2023 | MEENU GALHOTRA | ludhianaMILLET CULTIVATION, A SOLUTION TO WATER, CLIMATE, NUTRITION AND ECONOMIC CRISIS: DR SS GOSAL “Millets can play a significant role in crop diversification, water conservation and agri-business enhancement through processing and value addition,” observed Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) while inaugurating the “Brain Storming Meeting: Enhancing Production and Value Addition of Millets” in the University today. The meet was organised under the patronage of Sardar Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Agriculture Minister, Punjab and saw the participation of delegates, farmers, food entrepreneurs, scientists, heads of the departments, senior officials and students of PAU. The meet marked the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of PAU and International Year of Millets 2023. Going back to the pre-Green Revolution times, Dr Gosal recalled the popularity of millet cultivation which slid later due to the growing preference for wheat-paddy cycle that exacerbated the situation in terms of groundwater depletion. “The early cultivation of millets, using sustainable practices, is a long-term solution to the water, climate, nutrition and economic crisis,” he stated, while making a call for promoting the processing of millets to provide a leg-up to the agri-business and agri-startups. Dr Gosal lauded the vital contributions of the PAU’s five departments, especially, food science and technology, processing and food engineering, food and nutrition, School of Business Studies and Skill Development Centre in imparting trainings to the startups and making them self-reliant. Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, while sharing the research highlights, disclosed that the world’s first pearl millet hybrid ‘Hybrid Bajra 1’ was developed by Dr Dilbagh Singh Athwal, Father of Wheat Revolution in Punjab and first Head, Department of Plant Breeding, PAU, in 1965. “In 1960s, millets covered an area of 2.5 to 2.45 lakh hectares which declined slowly due to intensive agriculture,” he lamented. Expressing concern over the repercussions of the monoculture of wheat-paddy cropping pattern in Punjab, he called for focusing on saving water and enhancing nutritional security of the population by boosting the millet cultivation. Highlighting the research work done in millets in the national and international arena, Dr Dhatt revealed that PAU has developed nine varieties of bajra in addition to several other varieties of millets. In his welcome address, Dr GS Buttar, Director of Extension Education, said that earlier the emphasis was on food security, but at present, the thrust was on nutritional security of the nation. Stating that Bathinda, Mansa and Sri Muktsar Sahib were bajra producers and that millets could be cultivated using less water, he appealed for including millets in mid-day meals of school children and atta-dal scheme for the poor and underprivileged. Dr RK Dhaliwal, Dean, College of Agriculture, while proposing a vote of thanks, said that the meet would go a long way in chalking out a future roadmap for the growth of millets which will hold a special place in Punjab’s agricultural policy, slated for release at the end of June. She made a special mention of rich Punjabi saying ‘Bajre da sitta’ highlighting the use of bajra in the traditional diet of Punjabis. Dr C Tara Satyavathi, Director, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad, also spoke virtually. Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication, while conducting the programme, informed that the Skill Development Centre has trained 26 entrepreneurs and startups who were job providers currently instead of job seekers. On the occasion, three publications on millets were released. Besides, an exhibition on millet cultivation was also put by PAU. A delicious cake prepared using millets was cut by the PAU VC.
PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
