06 Jan

Millets

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Content

• Introduction
• Decreased Production over the years
• Government Initiatives to promote Nutri-Cereals

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Introduction

• International Year of Millet (IYM): The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 ‘International Year of Millets’. It will help in creating awareness throughout the world about the significant role of millets in sustainable agriculture and its benefits as a smart food and superfood.
• IYM 2023 aims to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Definitions:

• Millets include Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, little millets including Kutki, Kodo, Sawa, Kangni and Cheena.

Cropping:

• They are generally cultivated in low-fertile land, mountains, tribal and rain-fed areas.
  • These areas include Andhra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, MP, Rajasthan, MHA, KAR, UP, TN and Telangana.
• India is the largest producer and second largest exporter of millet and in 2022 India produced around 50.9 million tonnes. This accounts for 80% of Asia’s and 20% of global production. India is followed by African countries like Nigeria and Niger in production.

Decreased Production over the years:

• In pre green revolution era (1965-66), millets were cultivated in 36.90 million hectares of the country. In 2016-17, the area reduced to 14.72 million hectares.
• Why?
  • Green Revolution increased the productivity of wheat and rice.
  • Expansion in irrigation.
  • MSP Policy
  • Changes in consumption pattern, dietary habits etc: Socio-economic dynamics resulting from the hardy nature of the crop, relegated them to be the grain of the poor.

But recent studies have highlighted various significance of millets for healthy life and sustainable economic development:

Agri-Sustainability:

• Climate Resilience: Millets are tolerant to droughts, intensive to excess sunlight etc.
• Water Efficient: Millets can survive in less water conditions and can solve the problem of over-extraction of water resources.
  • A new study published in the journal Nature Water in Oct 2023 highlights that shifting to millets increases groundwater recharge more than drip irrigation in India’s northern plains.
• Better Health:
  • Food Security: In arid areas, millets are often the only crops that can be harvested in the dry regions and are a crucial part of household food basket.
  • Nutrition: Millets are smart food which are rich in nutrients like protein, vitamin-A, iron, calcium, iodine etc.
    • For e.g., just 100 gm of daily cereals (rice) intake with finger millets (ragi) will increase the daily iron intake by 50% and calcium by 350%.

Government Initiatives to promote Nutri-Cereals:

• Union Budget for FY24 announced an initiative focused on ‘Making India a Global Hub for
  Millets’ (Shree Anna).
• The Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad, will be supported as the Centre of Excellence for sharing the best practices, research and technologies at the international
  level.
• MAHARISHI Initiative i.e., Millets and OtHer Ancient Grains International ReSearcH initiative. This international initiative will focus on research and awareness via agro-biodiversity, food security and nutrition aligning with the International Year of Millets.
• India had declared year 2018 as the Year of Millets:
  • Spreading awareness about nutritional benefits of nutrients which will help in increasing the demand resulting in remunerative prices for poor and marginal farmers.
• Under the Sub Mission on National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – Nutri Cereals is creating awareness among farmers for Nutri Cereals (Millets).
  • NFSM – Coarse Cereals are divided into two components.
    • NFSM (Makka and Jau)
    • Sub Mission on Nutri-Cereals covering Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and little millets like Kutki, Kodo, Sawa, Kangni and Cheena
• Although significant strides have been made by many stakeholders in the promotion of millets there are still several aspects that need to be strengthened from both the demand as well as supply side.
  • Increasing Demand:

i. Consumer Awareness: To increase demand and make them a regular food option, mission mode campaigning is required which not only encourages people to move towards millets but also counters myths and misconceptions as well as demystifies their cooking.
ii. Promote startups supporting innovative and functional products with millets.

iii. Gluten Free value added products made from millet can be developed for the export market.

• Supply Side: Production as well as Processing needs to be supported and encouraged in
  different states.

i. Revise traditional methods of cultivation.

• • For e.g. Systems like Barahnaja (twelve seeds) from Uttarakhand and other mixed cropping practices in different states not only contributed to food security and soil fertility but also to diet and nutrition diversity by including millets, legumes and other nutritious crops in diet.

ii. Provide increased support to farmers – Increased procurement under MSP
iii. Increased market linkage can encourage farmers to grow millets.
iv. Increased R&D for development of High Yielding Varieties.

Other Practice Questions:

• Discuss the potential of millets in climate resilient agriculture and the conservation of agro-biodiversity [10 marks, 150 words]
• How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent
  past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption. [Mains 2018, 15 marks,
  250 words]
• Critically assess the current status and future prospects of millet cultivation and consumption in India. Discuss the necessary policy interventions and strategies to promote millets as a viable and sustainable food crop.