Pune: Rotary Millet Jatra and Cow Science Conference Held to Promote Millets and Indigenous Cow Products
Camp, 15th October 2025: The Maharashtra Government’s Pune Agriculture Department, Rotary Club Pune Camp, and 20 Rotary Clubs from Rotary District 3131 jointly organized the third edition of the Rotary Millet Jatra and Cow Science Conference at Alpabachat Bhavan in the Camp area. The initiative aimed to promote millets, provide a platform for farmers and cow-herders to sell their produce and interact with customers, and strengthen the connection between rural and urban communities through millet and Gomay products.
To encourage people to incorporate nutritious and delicious millets into their daily diets, the event featured a morning procession, millet recipe demonstrations and training sessions, farmer-seller-customer meetings, a poster competition, a millet recipe competition, a seminar by millet experts, indigenous cow worship, cow conservation awareness, felicitation of cow protectors, stalls showcasing millet and cow products, and traditional cultural programs.
The event was conceptualized by Rotarian Pradeep Khedkar and organized by Pune District Agriculture Officer Sanjay Kachole and Rotary Club Pune Camp President Kavita Mutha. Distinguished attendees included Maharashtra Goseva Ayog Chairman Shekhar Mundada, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingale, Additional Collector Dr. Suchita Bhikane, Siddhagiri Sansthan (Kaneri Math) Muthadipati Kadsiddheshwar Swami, Rotary District 3131 Proposed Governor Rtn Nitin Dhamale, PDG Rtn Pankaj Shah, PDG Rtn Sheetal Shah, PDG Rtn Manju Phadke, and other officials.
Rtn Nitin Dhamale highlighted the collaboration with the BAIF Research and Development Institute, which supports agricultural innovation and indigenous seed conservation. With Rotary’s assistance, seed banks are being developed to ensure the preservation of traditional seeds.
“Now is the time to promote millets on a larger scale for a healthier society and to support millet growers and indigenous cow products,” Rtn Dhamale said.
