Training to educate farmers on Kudiravali millet

MADURAI

In order to educate farmers on the cultivation, processing and marketing of ‘Madurai 1 Kudiravali’ (barnyard millet), a variety introduced by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, a special programme was held at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University on Tuesday.

Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao, who presided over the event, spoke on the need to promote and establish varieties of small millets. He said their nutrient value was superior to other crops.

C. Vanniarajan, Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics from the university, said under the Tamil Nadu Innovative Initiatives, 125 farmers from Tirumangalam block had been involved in the cultivation of this millet since 2015.

“We chose the farmers from small hamlets to popularise the crop. We provided technical advice, natural manure like vermicompost, pseudomonas and coconut tonic. We also taught them to market their product,” he said.

The block was also given a processing unit for ₹ 5 lakh that included de-stoner, de-huller, pulverizer, roaster, flour-blending and packing unit.

“Usually, many private companies purchase these crop for ₹14 to ₹18 per kg. If farmers themselves process it, they would get up to ₹80 with a meagre processing charge of ₹8. This would be a huge jump for farmers,” he said.

Mr. Vannirajan said that the University’s Community Science College taught interested farmers value additions like making health mixes and the concept of insect control.

The public must be educated on the day-to-day integration of these millets in their diet, said the professor. He said that barnyard millets had high iron and fibre content, particularly when used in idly or dosa batter. It would be particularly useful to women who had low level of iron, he added.