Millets have long been the staple food in the country. But polished rice, processed sugar and other refined food products produced using chemical fertilizers have become part of our daily life now. With no alternative, people have got accustomed to it and getting in the process, among other health disorders, diabetes, blood pressure and obesity.
In a bid to break this unhealthy trend, first in a series of Swedeshi Millets Food courts was opened here on Sunday by like-minded health-conscious people to make available a variety of dishes made with organically-produced ragi or finger millet, foxtail millet, pearl millet, proso millet and Sorghum.
“As many 200 sumptuous dishes can be made from millets,” says Ms G.Vardhani of the Swadeshi Ahara Kuteeram while taking out a Ragi dosa from the frying pan.
Patanjali Yoga Samiti Prakasam district president G. Balasubramanium, who was the brain behind the idea, said “health benefits of yoga can be fully realised only when people brought back millets to the dining table traditionally grown in Prakasam district as they are rich in vitamins and minerals including calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc.” “We have entered into buy-back agreement with farmers to grow millets on a regular basis using organic fertilizers and seeds from our seeds bank,” he said.
“It is high time we wean away members of the next generation who have become addicted to junk foods,” they added.
