Five agricultural journalists honoured for promoting millet-based crops

KATHMANDU: Five agricultural journalists were honoured for promoting millet-based crops on Monday.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Madan Prasad Pariyar presented the journalists with certificates, cash prizes and shawls at a ceremony in the assembly hall of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) in Singha Durbar.

The awards were given under three categories of the Millet News Writing Award-2082. The event was organised on the occasion of National Millet Day by the Association of Nepali Agricultural Journalists (ANAJ) and National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF).

According to organisers, Sagar Pariyar, a correspondent for Karnali Mission, received the Millet News Writing Best Award and cash Rs 15,000. He was recognised for his reporting on millet-based crops in Jumla district and Karnali Province.

Sarala Subedi of Bizmandu and Koshila Kunwar of Karobar Daily received the Millet News Writing Excellent Award. Each was given Rs 10,000 for consistently covering millet production, markets and the crop’s economic importance.

In the Millet News Writing Encouragement Award category, Dinesh Kumar Budha, Karnali correspondent for Nepal Khabar, and Bhawana Paudel, programme coordinator at Radio Amargadhi in Dadeldhura, were honoured. Each received Rs 5,000 for journalism on agriculture and farmers’ issues in Surkhet district, Karnali Province and Sudurpashchim.

Speaking at the programme, Minister Pariyar said celebrating Millet Day is a positive initiative to promote nutritious millet-based crops. He added that the government is preparing to prioritise millet promotion through policy and programme measures.

MoALD Secretary Rajendra Prasad Mishra said the ministry will begin honouring agricultural journalists on its behalf from next year. He said the ministry will encourage fact-based, research-oriented agricultural journalism.

Kiran Acharya, founder and chairperson of ANAJ, said millet-based crops are linked to culture, health and the livelihoods of small farmers. He said ANAJ aims to draw policymakers’ and the public’s attention to indigenous crops through agricultural journalism.

Under ANAJ’s initiative, the practice of rewarding journalists who write about millet began last year. Six journalists received the Millet News Writing Award in the inaugural round.

Previously celebrated informally, Millet Day is now observed nationally. Shrawan 16 has been declared National Millet Day. This replaces the symbolic observance that began on Shrawan 15, 2077 BS (30 July 2020).

NFGF is a national network that promotes indigenous products and the rights of small farmers. ANAJ is an organisation of media professionals active in agricultural communication.

The honoured journalists said the recognition adds responsibility and energy to their work.