Finger Millet dish compulsory in Phedikhola schools and govt offices

By Radha Krishna Dumre, waling (Syangja), July 29: Phedikhola Rural Municipality of Syangja imposed a mandatory provision of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) dish in schools and government offices.

Rural Municipality prepared a policy for schools to put millet in the mid-day meal twice a week. Similarly, the policy instructed local-level government offices to use and promote the millet dish.

Rural Municipality Chair Ghanshyam Subedi informed that the concept was launched with the aim of promoting local products, improving the nutrition of students, increasing the income of farmers, and enhancing community self-esteem.

Chair Subedi said, "Promoting millet will increase local production and will also significantly contribute to food security, farmers' income and the local economy."

He said that on the occasion of the first National Millet Day 2082, the Rural Municipality is going to start the work of production and marketing of millet, along with the conservation of millet.

"The Rural Municipality has started a finger millet dish campaign to promote and marketing of local products."

The Rural Municipality has stated that it has initiated various policies to promote locally produced millet as a multipurpose, nutritious, and economically viable local food.

It included the topic "Finger Millet: Multipurpose Food" in the local curriculum "Our Phedikhola" for grade 6 from 2077 BS, making students aware of this.