Page 16 - Mann Ki Baat - English, August 2022

sheds where the cows live, which is and dry fruits prepared by drying
called 'khud' here. During snowfall, them have been launched in
these sacks give protection to the the market. With the initiative of
cows from the cold. After winters, the Pithoragarh administration
this cow dung is used as manure and the cooperation of the local
in the fields. That is, the animals’ people, it has been successful
protection using animal waste, in bringing Bedu to the market
and also manure for the fields. in different forms. Bedu has also
The cost of cultivation is also low, been launched in the online
and the yield in the fields is high. market by branding it as Pahari
That is why this area, these days, Fig. Due to this, farmers have
is also becoming an inspiration for not only found a new source of
natural farming. income, but the benefits of the
Friends, many such medicinal properties of Bedu have
commendable efforts are also started reaching far and wide as
being seen in our other hill state, well.
Uttarakhand. Many types of My dear countrymen, in
medicines and plants are found the beginning of ‘Mann ki Baat’,
in Uttarakhand, which are very today, we referred to the Azadi Ka
beneficial for our health. One of Amrit Mahotsav. Along with the
them is the fruit – Bedu. It is also great festival of Independence
known as Himalayan Fig. In this fruit, Day, many more festivals are
minerals and vitamins are found lined up in the coming days.
in abundance. People consume Just a few days from now, is the
it not only in the form of fruit, but festival of Ganesh Chaturthi,
it is also used in the treatment of the festival of worship of Lord
many diseases. In view of these Ganesha. Ganesh Chaturthi, the
qualities of this fruit, now the juice festival of blessings of Ganpati
of Bedu, jams, chutneys, pickles Bappa. The festival of Onam is
also commencing before Ganesh

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