Governor General of Canada David Johnston today expressed concern over neglect of nutritious millets in Asia and Africa and stressed the need to bring it into people's diets due to its nutritional value and low cost.
Speaking at a function at city-based University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), he said his country has funded a major research programme to resurrect the small millet.
"We are happy we partnered with UAS and they have turned a miracle in developing millet breeds," he said.
"This is a human endeavour to establish food security and make it much easier for people to feed themselves. I was struck by how this collaboration between governments, agriculture universities, farmers, Indian equipment makers and population has worked," he said.
UAS vice-chancellor K Narayana Gowda said millets can offer a stable and nutritious diet to the poor and eradicate malnutrition.
