Millets

Millets are a coarse small-seeded kharif crop used for both food and animal fodder. They include jowar, bajra, ragi, sanwa etc. The year 2023 was announced as ‘International Year of Millets’ for awareness about health and nutritional benefits of millets by United Nations General Assembly. As per 2023 Economic Survey, India is producing 80% of Asia's millet and 20% of the world's total millet output. But unfortunately area under these crops has drastically reduced over the years. There is renewed push from the government to revive Millet production for food security and sustainable agriculture in India. The Government of India has recently introduced various initiatives like boosting millet farmer’s income through higher Minimum Support Price so that India can an exporter of millets.

Millets have been a cornerstone of Indian food culture for millennia. These tiny, nutrient-rich grains, have thrived in the country's diverse landscapes, from the arid plains of Rajasthan to the lush hills of the Deccan Plateau. Each region in India has its unique millet-based dishes and culinary traditions. Ragi (finger millet) is a mainstay in South India, while bajra (pearl millet) and jowar (sorghum) are popular in North India. The Green Revolution in the 1960s led to a shift towards rice and wheat, causing a decline in millet cultivation and consumption. However, in recent years, there has been a growing awareness of millets' nutritional and environmental benefits, sparking a revival.

In the 2023-24 Union Budget, Nirmala Sitharaman, India's Finance Minister, described millets as "Shree Anna" or "the mother of all grains". Millets are short duration warm weather kharif crops. Today millets are mostly consumed by poor people as their staple food. In India, many millets are grown these are Jawar, Bajra, Ragi, Korra, Kodon, Kutki, Hraka, Bauti, Rajgira.

• Kharif Crop: They are sown in May-August and harvested in October-November.
• Warm Weather: Millets thrive in specific geographical conditions, characterized by high temperatures ranging from 27°C to 32°C.
• Less Water: As "dry land crops," they flourish with an ideal rainfall between 50 to 100cm.
• Soil: Millets are versatile regarding soil, showing less sensitivity to deficiencies, and can be cultivated in inferior alluvial or loamy soil.
• Jawar and Bajra (pearl millet) are grown in both northern and southern India, including states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab.
• Pearl millet occupies the prime position in the rainfed farming in arid and semi-arid regions of India.
• Ragi (finger millet) is predominantly concentrated in southern India, specifically Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

• Require Lesser Inputs:
• • Millet crops demand less water and fertilizers due to their efficient root systems, reducing agricultural input costs.
• Short Growing Period:
• Their relatively shorter growing period makes millets economically viable for farmers, allowing quicker turnover and yield.
• Least affected by diseases and pests
• Their resilience against diseases and pests is because their wild varieties are still in use due to lesser commercialisation.
• Intercropping favourable:
• Millets serve as excellent crops for intercropping with various other plants, enhancing agricultural diversity and productivity.
• Drought Tolerance:
• Thriving in harsh, arid conditions, millets display higher resistance to drought and require minimal water for growth.
• Biodiversity:
• Millet cultivation contributes to maintaining biodiversity by encouraging the growth of multiple crops, discouraging monoculture farming practices
• Sustainable Agriculture
  • They can grow on marginal lands unsuitable for other crops, promoting sustainable agriculture.
• Dual Usage - Food and Fodder:
• As they are used for both food and fodder, it makes them a valuable choice for mixed farming,
• Nutritionally rich
• Millets are nutritionally rich, containing essential nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• They also have a low Glycaemic index and are good for diabetes patients.
• They are naturally gluten-free, making them ideal for people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

• Unfavourable agricultural policy
• Current agricultural policies, which heavily favor cereals like wheat and rice, often neglect millets, receiving inadequate attention and support
• Focus on specific millets
• Efforts to boost millet production tend to concentrate on a few varieties like sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet, limiting the diversification of millet crops.
• Prevalent Dietary Preferences:
• The predominant dietary habits favor wheat and rice over millets, leading to lower consumer demand and lesser integration of millets into regular diets.
• Lack of awareness
  • Mass awareness about the nutritional advantages of millets remains insufficient.
  • They are often stigmatized as "poor man's food

• Govt is implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) to improve production of Shree Anna /Millets
• The government is giving Higher MSP (Minimum Support Price) on millets hence boosting its adoption among farmers.
• To make India a global hub for 'Shree Anna', the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR),Hyderabad has been declared as the Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies at the national and international level.
• Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has implemented the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry for Millet-based products (PLISMBP) during 2022-23 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 800 crores
• Under the Eat Right campaign, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is creating awareness to promote the use of Shree Anna as part of a healthy and varied diet.
• Under G20, MAHARISHI initiative to promote research and awareness about millets and other ancient grains has been launched
• Nutritional Security through Intensive Millet Promotion (INSIMP): was launched in 2011-12 to promote millet production to enhance India’s nutritional security. It had a cluster approach for increasing production with value addition techniques and post-harvest technologies. It focused on poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers. However, scheme did not focus on commercial production of millets.

Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, millets offer a superior nutritional profile compared to many other cereals. They are a resilient crop with many environmental benefits. Cultivating millets helps diversify agriculture, reducing dependence on a few crops and lowering risks linked to crop failures and market fluctuations. Government efforts, such as promoting millets in food programs and providing subsidies, encourage farmers to cultivate and use millets so that India becomes a world leader. There is a need to target the promotion of this crop through an image makeover. Further a tailored approach is needed for areas grappling with drought and climate vulnerabilities, ensuring specific support for their unique challenges in millet cultivation. Increasing millets production is important for increasing farm income and addressing regional food security, water conservation and nutrition. The government should create a holistic Millet Plan with an all-encompassing strategy to tackle both production and distribution hurdles for millets.