Srinagar, Sep 24 (KNS): Calling the national seminar on “Millets for One Health” an important milestone in Jammu and Kashmir's journey towards healthier food systems, SKIMS Director Prof M Ashraf Ganie on Thursday stressed the need for a systematic revival of traditional food and lifestyle practices to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

He also cautioned against prolonged and indiscriminate exposure to pesticides and other chemicals, particularly in view of their potential impact on endocrine function.

The national seminar was jointly organised by the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), in collaboration with Kheti Virasat Mission.

Renowned millet expert Dr Khadar Valli, popularly known as the “Millet Man of India”, attended the programme as the Guest of Honour, while SKIMS Director Prof M Ashraf Ganie and SKUAST Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganie were the chief patrons.

The seminar witnessed participation from farmers, academicians, healthcare professionals, students and representatives of various institutions across the region, reflecting growing interest in millets, sustainable agriculture, nutrition and the One Health approach.

Addressing the gathering, Prof Ganie said the seminar was a significant step towards reconnecting modern society with traditional practices that placed greater emphasis on wholesome and locally available foods.

“We need to revive our old practices. This seminar is a significant step in that direction. Our traditional food systems had a wisdom that we must rediscover and integrate with modern scientific knowledge,” he said.

The renowned endocrinologist highlighted the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), saying they had emerged as a major public health challenge and accounted for a substantial share of morbidity.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

He stressed that the growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases required a systematic shift in the way society approached food, nutrition, agriculture and health.

Prof Ganie also underlined the importance of micronutrients in maintaining metabolic health, saying nutritional deficiencies and poor dietary diversity could have far-reaching consequences for metabolism and overall well-being.

Referring to the increasing prevalence of obesity among younger populations, he said promoting millet cultivation and consumption could also help restore healthier food practices at the household level.

“The kitchen has to be brought back to its rightful place in our homes. When we restore healthy food to our kitchens, we also restore family discourse, shared meals and healthier habits. This is not merely about changing a grain—it is about changing the culture around food,” he said.

He observed that growing dependence on highly processed foods and the spread of junk-food culture were contributing to changing dietary patterns, particularly among children and young people.

Prof Ganie said a healthy lifestyle was an important form of empowerment, adding that healthier individuals and families were essential for building a healthier and more productive nation and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

He also announced that SKIMS and SKUAST would take their collaboration forward by bringing together their respective expertise in medicine, endocrinology, nutrition, agriculture, research and public health to advance the mission of promoting healthier food systems and lifestyles.

The seminar brought together perspectives from healthcare, agriculture, nutrition and traditional knowledge, highlighting the interconnectedness of human health, environmental sustainability and food systems.(KNS)