CM Conrad Sangma thanks PM Modi for Mann Ki Baat millet shoutout
Synopsis
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma thanked PM Modi after Mann Ki Baat spotlighted three local millet farmers and women entrepreneurs from West Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills, linking the recognition to the broader national goal of doubling farmers' income.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi gave special mention to three Meghalaya individuals on Mann Ki Baat on 25 October 2026 .
Chekjing Sangma of Sadolpara, West Garo Hills , was recognised for reviving millet cultivation.
Darapbiang Mulieh and Smt.
Daieidlangki Suchiang of Khanduli, West Jaintia Hills , were cited for promoting millet-based products.
India observed 2023 as the International Year of Millets, underpinning current national policy on millet revival.
The national target of doubling farmers' income was announced in 2016 , with millets as a key crop-diversification lever.
CM Sangma reaffirmed the Meghalaya government's commitment to rural livelihoods and farmer income growth.
Three names from Meghalaya's hills made it to the Prime Minister's microphone — and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma wants the country to know it.
On Sunday, 25 October 2026, CM Sangma took to X to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spotlighting the state's millet farming community on Mann Ki Baat, the PM's flagship monthly radio address. The episode gave special mention to three individuals: Chekjing Sangma of Sadolpara, West Garo Hills, credited with reviving millet cultivation in the region, and Smt. Darapbiang Mulieh and Smt. Daieidlangki Suchiang of Khanduli, West Jaintia Hills, recognised for promoting millet-based products and keeping the state's age-old farming traditions alive.
Three names, two districts, one resurgent crop
The shoutouts are more than ceremonial. Millets — once sidelined by high-yield grain cultivation — have been making a deliberate comeback in India's agricultural policy, anchored by the country's push during the International Year of Millets in 2023. For Meghalaya, a state whose diverse microclimates have historically supported traditional grain varieties, the revival is both ecological and economic. Chekjing Sangma's work in West Garo Hills and the two women entrepreneurs in West Jaintia Hills represent exactly the kind of grassroots momentum national policymakers have been trying to incentivise.Doubling farmers' income — Meghalaya's piece of the puzzle
CM Sangma used the moment to restate his government's commitment to 'supporting farmers, strengthening rural livelihoods and working towards our shared vision of doubling farmers' income' — a target first announced by the Centre in 2016, with crop diversification including millets at its core. The Northeast, long peripheral to India's green-revolution geography, is increasingly being positioned as a frontier for climate-resilient agriculture. Women entrepreneurs processing and marketing millet-based products represent an emerging value chain that extends well beyond the field. When a Prime Minister names a farmer from a remote village by name on a programme broadcast to hundreds of millions, it changes things on the ground. For Meghalaya's millet growers, that moment has arrived.Point of View
The acknowledgement validates a state-level push to align traditional cropping systems with Central schemes — and builds political goodwill across party lines on a non-partisan issue like food security. The millet moment also underscores a quiet but significant shift in how 'doubling farmers' income' is being pursued: less through volume and more through value-chain development, with women entrepreneurs as a central vehicle. Watch whether Meghalaya translates this national visibility into concrete millet-specific procurement or market-linkage programmes in the next budget cycle.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were given special mention in Mann Ki Baat for millet farming in Meghalaya?
PM Modi gave special mentions to Chekjing Sangma of Sadolpara, West Garo Hills, for reviving millet cultivation, and to Smt. Darapbiang Mulieh and Smt. Daieidlangki Suchiang of Khanduli, West Jaintia Hills, for promoting millet-based products.
What is Mann Ki Baat?
Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address in which he highlights citizen achievements, government initiatives, and stories of grassroots innovation from across India.
Why is millet farming important in Meghalaya?
Meghalaya has a rich tradition of millet cultivation suited to its diverse microclimates. The crop supports nutrition security, climate-resilient farming, and rural livelihoods, aligning with both state priorities and India's national millet revival push since the International Year of Millets in 2023.
What is the national target for doubling farmers' income and how does millet fit in?
India announced the goal of doubling farmers' income in 2016, with crop diversification — including millets — as a key strategy. Millets offer higher margins and lower input costs, making them central to achieving that target in states like Meghalaya.
What did Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma say about the Mann Ki Baat recognition?
CM Conrad Sangma thanked PM Modi for recognising Meghalaya's millet farming tradition and reaffirmed his government's commitment to supporting farmers, strengthening rural livelihoods, and working towards doubling farmers' income.
