Srinagar, Sep 22: (KNS )Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday called for greater focus on traditional food systems, particularly millets, saying food, health, water and soil security need to be addressed together to tackle emerging health and environmental challenges.
Addressing a food dialogue in Srinagar, Sinha said traditional wisdom had long emphasised the importance of shared food and water and highlighted the link between dietary practices and human health.
He said the increasing incidence of diseases, water-related challenges and natural disasters in Jammu and Kashmir called for greater emphasis on preventive healthcare and sustainable agricultural practices.
“Instead of only thinking about treatment, we need to focus more on how we can remain healthy,” Sinha said, underlining the close relationship between public health, the environment and agriculture.
He said merely increasing the number of medical colleges and healthcare facilities would not be sufficient if the incidence of diseases continued to rise.
Sinha stressed the need to ensure food, health, water and soil security while also protecting
biodiversity.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelReferring to the growing focus on millets, he said India had played an important role in promoting traditional grains globally and recalled the United Nations' declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
He said various programmes were being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir to promote millets, but there was a need to further expand their reach through greater public awareness and wider outreach.
Sinha said millet-based food systems could contribute to sustainable agriculture as many millet crops require comparatively less water and may reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides, depending on the crop and farming practices.
He also called upon the media to contribute towards creating greater awareness about public health, sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
“Protection of our land is not only the responsibility of the government; it is the responsibility of society and every individual,” he said. (KNS)
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