Khanduli village's finger millet revival is named in Mann Ki Baat

State Focus Meghalaya Award Agriculture & Rural Schemes & Welfare

Khanduli village's finger millet revival is named in Mann Ki Baat

25 October 2026

The Prime Minister named Khanduli village of Meghalaya for its millet promotion in the 139th episode of Mann Ki Baat, which aired on 25 October 2026. Khanduli lies in West Jaintia Hills district. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Jaintia Hills has been working since 2021 to revive finger millet there, through training, demonstrations and technical guidance. What began with five or six farmers on less than 500 square metres now covers roughly 50 to 60 farmers and about 10 hectares. Darapbiang Mulieh set up Mulieh Enterprise and brought out finger millet and baby millet powders, and Sitrian Surong is credited with helping keep millet cultivation alive in the village. A Krishi Vigyan Kendra is a farm science centre funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Mann Ki Baat episode: 139th Area under millet now: About 10 hectares District: West Jaintia Hills

Why it matters for exams: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra is the ICAR farm science centre, and Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills is the village named in the 139th Mann Ki Baat episode.

UPSC

25 October 2026 Source: Government of Meghalaya, Information and Public Relations Department

In plain words

KVK Krishi Vigyan Kendra — A district farm science centre funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to train farmers and demonstrate new practices.

Finger millet Finger millet — A hardy millet, called ragi in much of India, grown on poor soils and valued for calcium and iron.