Chief Minister Launches ‘Araku Kouni’ Tribal Millet Menu

• 14 Mar 2026

On 12th March 2026, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched ‘Araku Kouni’, the state’s first tribal millet-based food menu, during the Collectors’ Conference at the Secretariat.

• The initiative aims to bring traditional millet-based diets into mainstream food culture while showcasing the rich culinary heritage of tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh.
• The Araku Kouni menu features traditional recipes sourced from indigenous communities in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district.
• The dishes include Korra Payasam, Ragi Chapati, Samala Pulihora, Kantla Ambali, Corn Vada and Toor Dal Curry, reflecting the food traditions of the Araku region.
• The ASR district administration spearheaded the initiative with support from tribal anganwadi workers, the Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati, and the Department of Tourism.
• The ingredients used in the dishes are cultivated in natural environments without chemical fertilisers or pesticides.
• The district tourism team, in collaboration with the Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati, documented the recipes along with their nutritional values, calorific indices and health benefits.