Khadar Vali, the Millet Man of India, Promotes Healthy Eating at BSF Tripura Seminar

A special session was organized at the Border Security Force Tripura Frontier headquarters to encourage the use of millets among the families of Seema Praharis. The seminar was conducted by Khadar Vali, a Padma Shri recipient of 2023, known as the Millet Man of India.

During the seminar, Khadar Vali emphasized the benefits of millets for a healthy life. He explained that millets are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibers, and have more nutritional content than conventional grains. In BSF messes, millets are being extensively used in food preparation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations have recognized 2023 as the International Year of Millets to raise awareness about their health and nutritional benefits. Senior officers, troops, and their family members attended the seminar, which aims to motivate BSF personnel to adopt millets in their daily diet and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Millets are considered a staple food for the local community, enhancing food security and nutrition by reducing dependence on other cereal crops. Millets are small-seeded grasses often called Nutri-cereals, and most states in India grow one or more millet crop species. Major millet-producing states include Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.