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Gujarat Launches Statewide Millet Festival to Boost Health & Farmer Prosperity

Gujarat's Agriculture Minister inaugurated a statewide Millet Festival in Ahmedabad, framing millets as crucial for public health and farmer welfare. The event, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Shree Anna' initiative, aims to promote nutrient-rich grains like bajra and jowar across 17 major cities. Officials highlighted that over 8 lakh farmers have adopted natural farming, with millets offering resilience against climate change and serious diseases. The festival, featuring hundreds of stalls, provides farmers direct market access and allows citizens to purchase pure millet products.

Key Points: Gujarat Millet Festival 2026 Promotes 'Shree Anna' for Healthy Lifestyle

  • Promotes millets as shield against diabetes & cancer
  • Over 8 lakh farmers adopted natural farming
  • Festival features 700+ stalls for direct market access
  • Part of PM Modi's nationwide 'Shree Anna' campaign
  • Millets need less water, aid climate resilience
2 min read

'Millets are not just food, but healthy lifestyle': Gujarat Minister at statewide festival launch

Gujarat Minister inaugurates Millet Festival, highlighting health benefits and farmer support under PM Modi's 'Shree Anna' campaign. Over 700 stalls featured.

'Millets are not just food, but healthy lifestyle': Gujarat Minister at statewide festival launch
"Millet is not just food, but a symbol of a healthy lifestyle and farmers' prosperity - Jitu Vaghani"

Ahmedabad, March 21

Emphasising the role of millets in promoting health and farmers' prosperity, Gujarat Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani inaugurated the state-level 'Millet Festival and Natural Farmer Market-2026' at Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Riverfront on Saturday.

"Millet is not just food, but a symbol of a healthy lifestyle and farmers' prosperity," Vaghani said, highlighting its high nutritional value and ease of digestion.

He added that the initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the 'Shree Anna' campaign, aims to improve public health across the country.

The festival was also attended by former Cooperation State Minister and State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma and Agriculture and Animal Husbandry State Minister Ramesh Katara.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel extended his greetings through a video message, urging citizens to incorporate 'Shree Anna' into their daily diets to contribute to a healthier Gujarat.

Speaking about the festival's reach, Vaghani noted that under Chief Minister Patel's guidance, millet awareness is being promoted across 17 major cities in Gujarat.

He recalled that 2023 was celebrated as the 'International Year of Millets' under Prime Minister Modi's initiative.

The festival encourages the use of nutrient-rich millet varieties, including bajra, jowar, ragi, nagli, kan, and moriya.

Vaghani also expressed concern over rising health issues caused by chemical farming and pesticide-laden grains.

"Shree Anna millets are excellent for health and can help protect against serious illnesses such as diabetes and cancer," he said.

He added that over 8,00,000 farmers in Gujarat have adopted natural farming practices, while more than 20 lakh have been trained by the state government.

Millets, he noted, yield well even with limited water and fertiliser, supporting climate resilience.

Under the Millet Development Scheme, financial assistance is available for value addition and processing units.

The festival features over 700 stalls and exhibitions, providing direct market access to farmers. Vishwakarma highlighted the growing global presence of millets.

"Prime Minister Modi ensured that millets reached beyond India. At the G20 summit, foreign delegates were served dishes made from millets," he said.

He added that last year, over 5,00,000 people visited the festival and its stalls.

The festival offers citizens the chance to purchase pure millet products and savour a range of nutritious dishes.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good step, but the real challenge is making millets affordable and accessible year-round, not just at festivals. The prices in cities are still high compared to wheat and rice. Hope the farmer market concept is expanded.
A
Arjun K
My grandfather always said bajra rotla was the secret to his strength. Glad we are rediscovering the wisdom of our ancestors. The climate resilience point is crucial for a state like Gujarat. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan!
S
Sarah B
Visiting from the US and attended the festival yesterday. The variety was amazing! Tried millet pizzas and desserts. It's impressive how India is leading the global conversation on sustainable and healthy food.
K
Karthik V
Training 20 lakh farmers is a massive achievement. If millet farming becomes more profitable, it can truly reverse rural migration. Hope the financial assistance for processing units reaches the small farmers first.
M
Meera T
While promoting millets is excellent, the article also hints at the real problem - chemical farming. The focus should equally be on reducing pesticides in ALL our food, not just promoting an alternative. Health is holistic.
D
David E
The 'Shree Anna' campaign seems to be a well-rounded policy linking farmer welfare, public health, and environmental sustainability. The G

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