
Udupi: Deputy commissioner Vidya Kumari K stressed the need to include millets in daily diet to improve health. She was speaking at the district-level millet festival and workshop on indigenous crop conservation and promotion, organised as part of the International Trade Fair Organics and Millets 2025 at the Rajangana Hall of the Udupi Shri Krishna Mutt on Saturday. The event was jointly organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat and agriculture department
Speaking on the importance of millets for current and future generations, the DC noted that millet festivals aim to create awareness about their benefits. “Incorporating millets into daily meals promotes balanced health, as they are highly nutritious and boost immunity. With increasing awareness of these benefits, it is encouraging to see a resurgence of millets in our food habits,” she said.
The programme was inaugurated by Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Mutt, who said the health and longevity enjoyed by earlier generations were due to traditional dietary practices rich in essential nutrients. He said modern processed foods fail to provide the necessary nourishment. He highlighted the high fibre content in millets and called for greater support to farmers cultivating millets.
The event was attended by dignitaries, including Dinkar Herur, chairman of the Udupi Urban Development Authority, and officials from the agriculture department.
The millet festival showcased a variety of indigenous paddy varieties, millet-based food products, dishes like millet halwa, chikki, and spice blends, highlighting the diverse culinary applications of millets.