Team News Riveting
Raipur, January 29
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to a Chhattisgarh organic farming project in his “Mann Ki Baat” in which Chhattisgarh’s Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anbalagan P was keenly associated.
While rendering the 97th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, the Prime Minister talked about the farmer producer organisation (FPO) started by Sandeep Sharma in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh. “Farmers from 12 states are associated with the FPO of Chhattisgarh’s Sandeep Sharma, who is associated with natural farming,” the Prime Minister said, adding the FPO of Bilaspur is making 8 types of millet flour and its dishes.
Sharma started the Farmers Pride that he claimed to be a unique platform to empower consumers and farmers. The project started with a small food processing unit to serve the family and friends. The small experiment of self-reliance, which began 22 years ago, has made its mark internationally by establishing quality parameters of organic production in society.
The organization started a shop with progressive organic farmers of Bilaspur in 2017. The then District Collector of Bilaspur and 2004-batch IAS officer Anbalagan P took keen initiative in the project with then District Development Manager of NABRAD Kamal Pattnaik. The Farmers Pride says the first shop was established under the leadership of Anbalagan P, who provided all necessary assistance to expedite the project.
The Prime Minister also referred to a Millets Café established in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh. “If you get a chance to visit Raigarh in Chhattisgarh, you must visit the Millets Cafe here. Items like Chilla, Dosa, Momos, Pizza and Manchurian are becoming very popular in this Millets Cafe which started a few months back,” he said.