Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his 'Mann Ki Baat' address on Sunday to connect two issues that often sit apart in policy: rural livelihoods and nutrition. At the centre were two familiar foods, Amla and Moringa, which he said are creating new income opportunities while strengthening the fight against malnutrition.
Amla has long been a staple in Indian homes, used in pickles, murabba, juice and Chyawanprash during winters. PM Modi said it is now opening fresh avenues for farmers and women entrepreneurs.
He noted that Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh has a deep-rooted link with Amla, which has been further strengthened through the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. Nearly 100 local units in the district are now engaged in Amla processing, with women's self-help groups playing a central role.
How Women's Groups Are Earning More
The Prime Minister highlighted two examples. The 'Savitri Phule Self Help Group' in Devgarh Kamasi village makes Amla candy, murabba and juice.
"Expanded market access has significantly raised the income of its members. Similarly, the Vindhyavasini Self Help Group makes Amla pickle and digestive powder. These women received processing machinery, access to loans and opportunities to participate in local trade fairs, resulting in a marked rise in their earnings," he said.
Why It Matters: The Value Is in Processing
The Pratapgarh examples point to a simple economic lesson. A raw Amla sold at harvest fetches a limited price, but turned into candy, murabba, juice, pickle or digestive powder, the same fruit earns far more and lasts longer on the shelf. The support these groups received, from machinery and credit to trade fairs, addresses exactly the gaps that usually keep small rural producers selling raw produce.
That is also the idea behind ODOP. PM Modi said every region of India has its own unique fruits, traditional arts or special skills, and the campaign aims to take these beyond local markets to other parts of India and global markets, supporting Vocal for Local and the goal of a self-reliant India.
A Festive-Season Appeal
With the festive season approaching, the Prime Minister urged citizens to keep the spirit of Vocal for Local alive while shopping.
September's Nutrition Push
PM Modi said September saw multiple efforts to fight malnutrition across states:
- Chhattisgarh: The 'Har Ghar Munga' campaign is encouraging families to include Moringa, locally called Munga, in their daily diet.
- Gujarat: 'Vangi Spardha', a competition featuring dishes made from millets and other local nutritious ingredients, drew over two lakh participants.
- Maharashtra: Local involvement in similar nutrition drives is growing.
- Mizoram: A collective campaign has been launched for the care and maintenance of Poshan Vatikas (nutrition gardens).
The Poshan Maah Connection
These state efforts come during Rashtriya Poshan Maah, the National Nutrition Month observed every September. The 9th edition was launched on September 9, 2026, in Varanasi by Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
This year's theme is "Hamari Anganwadi Hamari Jimmedari", which calls on every citizen to take shared ownership of Anganwadi centres. The campaign also focuses on balanced, protein-rich nutrition for pregnant and lactating women.
Anganwadis Go Digital
The Prime Minister said these initiatives complement the digital strengthening of Anganwadi centres, which now have nearly nine crore registered beneficiaries. This, he said, enables better care for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Anganwadi centres are described as the world's largest childcare network, reaching children even in the most remote communities.
The Bigger Picture: Local Food as the Answer
The common thread in the PM's message was that the solution to malnutrition may already be growing locally. He called for sustained efforts to make India completely free of malnutrition by promoting affordable, locally grown superfoods such as Amla and Moringa.
Amla and Moringa fit that idea well: both are familiar, widely grown and inexpensive. When the same produce also raises incomes for women's groups, the nutrition goal and the livelihood goal support each other.
From a pickle-making self-help group in Pratapgarh to Moringa on dinner plates in Chhattisgarh, the Prime Minister's message was that local produce can do double duty: put money in rural hands and better nutrition on family plates.
With inputs from IANS.
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