BAU to Promote Millets Products for Farmer Empowerment

Bhagalpur: Bihar is witnessing a surge in Sri Anna production, signaling promising prospects for the agricultural landscape of the region. With the potential for abundant food grain production, both as Kharif crop in South Bihar and as a summer crop in North Bihar, farmers are exploring diverse cultivation avenues.

Currently, farmers across various districts of Bihar are engaged in cultivating jowar, vajra, maduwa/ragi, sabon kodo, and chena, reaping the benefits of high-yield varieties. The shift towards cultivating Ragi instead of paddy in non-irrigated areas is proving lucrative, with farmers experiencing increased profits.

Recognizing the opportunity to enhance farmer profitability, Bihar Agricultural University is set to establish the Shree Food Processing Plant. This initiative aims to convert agricultural produce into rice or flour, providing farmers with an avenue for value addition. Additionally, the university plans to offer training to farmers in the production of various value-added products of Shree Anna, empowering them to establish their own businesses.

A pivotal meeting convened by the Center of Excellence for Millets Ball Chain Project at Bihar Agricultural University brought together key stakeholders to discuss this initiative. Dr. Kumar Archayalu, Dr. Hashvardhan, Dr. Priyanka, and Dishavos from ACRESET Hyderabad, alongside representatives from Narbad Bhagalpur and BAU, including Dr. RK Sohane, Director of Extension Education, Dr. A.K. Singh, Director of Research, and Dr. RP Sharma, Dean, participated in the deliberations.

The meeting also saw the attendance of 25 farmers from two farmer product organizations and 12 members from Jeevika, who benefited from the training sessions. The primary aim of the gathering was to promote Shri Anna production and value-added products through farmer producer organizations, livelihood initiatives, and Anganwadi programs, thereby ensuring farmers derive maximum benefits from Shree Anna cultivation.