Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday in his Mann Ki Baat programme highlighted how women entrepreneurs and farmers in Meghalaya are helping revive millet cultivation, turning traditional grains into marketable products and strengthening rural livelihoods. The examples from Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills and Sadolpara in West Garo Hills illustrated how local initiatives, value addition and the adoption of modern farming methods can help restore interest in traditional crops while creating new income opportunities for rural communities.
In Khanduli, where millets have been part of the local food culture for generations, the number of farmers cultivating the grains had declined over time. The trend began to change when two women from the village, Darapbiang Mulieh and Daieidlangki Suchiang, started developing millet-based products to expand their market. By introducing items such as cookies, cakes, muffins and baby food, they added value to the traditional grains, increased sales of millet-based products and helped generate renewed demand for the crops. The growing market has encouraged farmers in the village to return to millet cultivation, demonstrating how local entrepreneurship can support the revival of traditional agricultural practices.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the efforts of Chekjing Sangma, a farmer from Sadolpara in West Garo Hills, who has taken up millet cultivation using modern methods. His initiative has increased his income and raised awareness about the importance of millets among people in the village.
Thanking the Prime Minister for recognising Meghalaya’s farming traditions and the work of its farmers and women entrepreneurs, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “Thank Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for recognising Meghalaya’s rich tradition of millet cultivation and highlighting the efforts of our farmers and women entrepreneurs in today’s #MannKiBaat.”
Referring to the Prime Minister’s special mentions of Chekjing Sangma and the two women entrepreneurs from Khanduli, the Chief Minister said, “Thank Hon’ble PM for his Special mentions of Chekjing Sangma of Sadolpara, West Garo Hills, for reviving millet cultivation, and Smt. Darapbiang Mulieh and Smt. Daieidlangki Suchiang of Khanduli, West Jaintia Hills, for promoting millet-based products and preserving our age-old farming traditions.”
He said the State government remained committed to strengthening agricultural livelihoods and supporting farmers.
“As a Government, we remain committed to supporting our farmers, strengthening rural livelihoods and working towards our shared vision of doubling farmers’ income,” Sangma added.
