Uttarakhand: CS gave instructions to identify unused lands in the state and promote the production of Mandua, Jhangora and Amaranth and prepare an action plan for area expansion

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has issued important instructions in the meeting of House of Himalaya and Millet Mission at the Vidhan Sabha Bhavan on Thursday regarding increasing the production of Mandua, Jhangora and Amaranth and improving the supply chain. The CS has instructed the Agriculture and Horticulture Department to identify unused valleys and lands in the state and prepare an action plan for area expansion, promoting the production of Mandua, Jhangora and Amaranth on a large scale. He said that this work has to be done in a phased manner. Its operation should be given priority to women self-help groups. The Chief Secretary has said that to increase the production and procurement of Mandua, Jhangora, Amaranth and other local products, the Agriculture and Horticulture Department as well as the Cooperative Department will have to play an active role. In this direction, the Chief Secretary has given instructions to make an MOU between UCF (Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation) and House of Himalaya. The CS has instructed the officials to study the input cost in relation to making a proposal regarding the MSP (minimum support price) of Jhangora and Amaranth.

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has given instructions to increase the use of millets Mandua, Jhangora etc. in the food products served in all government buildings and institutions including Assembly, Secretariat, GMVN, KMVN etc. CS has specifically instructed the Women Development and Child Welfare Department and the Health Department to encourage local millets like Mandua, Jhangaura, Chaulai for the health development of women and children. He said that the role of ANM, Asha workers and Anganwadi will be important in this work.

To strengthen Uttarakhand’s umbrella brand House of Himalaya and for better marketing of local products, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has instructed the concerned officials to study the functioning of big established brands at national and international level. CS has directed that special care should be taken for the quality and certification of products under House of Himalaya, which acts as a platform for local products of Uttarakhand.

Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretary RK Meenakshi Sundaram, Radhika Jha, VBRC Purushottam, Vinod Kumar Suman, Chandresh Kumar, Arvind Singh Hayanki, Additional Secretary Manuj Goyal and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.