Page 64 - Mann Ki Baat English

SHREE ANNA

From forgotten grains to a People's

Movement

In recent years, Shree Anna, our traditional millet, has
transformed from a forgotten grain into a nationwide movement.
Supported by government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and the Production Linked
Incentive Scheme for Millet-Based Products (PLISMBP) to encourage
value-added processing, farmers are innovating, processing
and marketing millet-based products with renewed confidence.
As mentioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Farmer Producer
Organisations (FPOs) from Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan are the live
examples of this movement.

Out of our 800 women farmers, 50% are from Kallakurichi
district & other 50 per cent are from Salem district. During the
off season, many of the farmers used to migrate from Kallakurichi hills
to Mysore in nearby state for getting job. By setting up a company, we
have somewhat reduced the migration from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka.
We now have a Millet Processing Unit, and one outlet shop within our
company itself. We are also a member of a district level consortium
with our ties with 21 companies for marketing of our products with the
name of Millet Asia. In future, we will increase our income by increasing
our value-added products like Millet Laddus, Millet Cookies with a motto
to give the dividend to our farmers. This project is very well helped by
Centre SFAC (Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium), and Agriculture
Department. We are very thankful to them, and also to our Hon’ble Prime
Minister for motivating our farmers through 'Mann ki Baat'.

-B. Sivarani, Managing Director, Periya Kalrayan Millet
Women Farmer Producer Company Limited, Tamil Nadu

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