Agriculture Management Technology Agency (ATMA), Mangan District in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) North Sikkim organized a kisan Gosthi cum Field Day on Indigeneous Millet Cultivation at Phamtam village under Kabi Block on 26th August 2025.
Honble Advisor Health and Culture Department, Government of Sikkim cum Area MLA Kabi Lungchok Shri. Thinlay Tshering Bhutia graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Shri. Tshering Gyatso Lepcha also known as Millet Man of Sikkim along with his spouse Smt. Phurmit Lepcha attended as a Special Guest cum Resource Person.
The programme also had the presence of Zilla Panchayat, Panchayats, farmers, SHGs as well officials and field staffs of Agriculture and ATMA.
The progamme commenced with an offering of traditional khadas and boquet to chief Guest and other distinguished guests.
Joint Director Agriculture cum Project Director ATMA ,Shri Enchung Bhutia in his welcome address welcomed the Honble Area MLA and all the dignatories as well as farmers and SHGs. Shri. Bhutia also briefed the gathering about the ATMA Scheme emphasizing on Kisan Gosthi.
Mrs Meena Pradhan, SMS Agricultural Extension KVK North Sikkim detailed the gathering about the activities undertaken by KVK North Sikkim in promotion, cultivation and conservation of millets in the district. She also stressed about the potential of millet cultivation in the district and initiatives taken by KVK in conservation of indigeneous millet cultivation.
Shri Tshering Gyatso Lepcha, The Millet Man of Sikkim delivered a detailed lecture on importance of millet cultivation and the nutritional as well as health benefits of millet. Mr. Lepcha also spoke about the detailed package and practices of three types of millet viz Barnyard Millet, Foxtail Millet and Little Millet. He also contributed 35000 (thirty five thousand) seedlings of Indigeneous Barnyard Millet, Foxtail Millet and Little Millet from his farm as an initiative to promote the Indigeneous Millet Cultivation.
Shri. Thinlay Tshering Bhutia, Honble Advisor Health and Culture Department, Government of Sikkim cum Area MLA Kabi Lungchok in his remarks appreciated the departments’ effort in promotion and conservation of indigeneous millet cultivation in the district. He also applauded the Millet Man of Sikkim for promoting indigeneous millet cultivation in other districts of Sikkim. Shri Bhutia urged the farmers to take up millet cultivation on large scale and further encouraged them to establish Indigeneous Millet Nursery/ Growers Group.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs. Lyangmit Lepcha, Agriculture Inspector, Kabi Block.
After the formal programme, all the dignitories and participants actively took part in millet transplanting in the field.
The Programme was successfully organized and managed by BTM Kabi Block, ATMA Mrs. Norbu Dolma Bhutia.
(Press Release issued by KVK North and ATMA Mangan)
