Lok Sabha Question No. 74 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Production and Consumption of Millets
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Chandra Sekhar Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 74

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 th  FEBRUARY, 2023

## PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF MILLETS

*74.    SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान क  याण मंी be pleased to state: (a) whether the United Nations (UN) has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets and if so, the details thereof along with the action plan of UN to increase the production of millets particularly in India; (b) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  the  production  of millets and the extent to which success has been achieved in this regard, State-wise; (c) the details of annual production of millets in the country during the last three years, State-wise including the State of Odisha; (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to create awareness about the health benefits and to encourage consumption of millets; (e) whether it is a fact that the Guyana has offered 200 acres of land to India for cultivation and production of millets for private sector; and (f) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान काण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 74 DUE FOR REPLY ON 07.02.2023 REGARDING 'PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF MILLETS'.

(a)  to  (d):            Yes,  Sir.  To  create  domestic  and  global  demand    and  to  provide nutritional food to the people, Government of India had proposed to United Nations for declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets (IYM). The proposal of India was supported by 72 countries and United Nation's General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as International Year of Millets in March, 2021. The Government of India has also provided US$ 5,00,000 to Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to support the activities related to International Year of Millets - 2023. In order to promote millets, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a SubMission on Nutri-Cereals (Millets) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in 212 Districts of 14 States since 2018-19. Under NFSM-Nutri Cereals, incentives are provided to the farmers, through the states/UTs, on crop production and protection technologies,  cropping  system  based  demonstrations,  production  &  distribution  of certified  seeds  of  newly  released  varieties/hybrids,  Integrated  Nutrient  and  Pest Management  techniques,  improved  farm  implements/tools/resource  conservation machineries,  water  saving  devices,  capacity  building  of  farmers  through  trainings during cropping season, organizing events/workshops, distribution of seed minikits, publicity through print and electronic media etc. The interventions such as formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for Nutri Cereals, setting up Centers of Excellence (CoE) and seed hubs for Nutri Cereals have also been supported under NFSM.

The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  a  multi  stakeholder  approach towards celebration of International Year of Millets (IYM) - 2023. The action plan of IYM-2023 focuses on strategies to enhance production and productivity, consumption, export, strengthening value chain, branding, creating awareness for health  benefits  etc.  Further,  a  yearlong  action  plan  for  monthly  activity  has  been prepared by Central Ministry, State Governments and Indian Embassies to create awareness about millets for increasing production and demand. In addition, states such as Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra  are  implementing  State  Millet  Missions  to  increase  production  and consumption. In the Budget - 2023-24, it has been announced to make India a global hub  for  Millet,  the  Indian  Institute  of  Millet  Research  (IIMR),  Hyderabad  to  be supported  as  the  Centre  of  Excellence  for  sharing  best  practices,  research  and technologies at the International level. The State wise average production of Millets in the country during the last 3 years, particularly in Odisha is given at Annexure - I .

(e) to (f): The  President  of  Guyana  during  the  courtesy  meeting  with  Hon'ble Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  Minister  expressed  his  willingness  to  provide  200 acres of land for cultivation of Millets in Guyana. However, no formal proposal has been received in this Ministry.

Annexure - I State - wise details of Average Production of Millets in the Country

| S. No.    | State/UT         |   *Avg. Production (in '000 Tonnes) |
|-----------|------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh   |                          464.937    |
| 2.        | Assam            |                            3.19667  |
| 3.        | Bihar            |                            8.76     |
| 4.        | Chhattisgarh     |                           26.3567   |
| 5.        | Gujarat          |                         1079.34     |
| 6.        | Haryana          |                         1177.87     |
| 7.        | Himachal Pradesh |                            4.35     |
| 8.        | Jharkhand        |                           16.6433   |
| 9.        | Karnataka        |                         2399.87     |
| 10.       | Kerala           |                            0.57     |
| 11.       | Madhya Pradesh   |                         1035.29     |
| 12.       | Maharashtra      |                         2413.1      |
| 13.       | Odisha           |                           57.0967   |
| 14.       | Punjab           |                            0.323333 |
| 15.       | Rajasthan        |                         4864.5      |
| 16.       | Tamil Nadu       |                          872.953    |
| 17.       | Telangana        |                          137.87     |
| 18.       | Uttar Pradesh    |                         2231.32     |
| 19.       | Uttarakhand      |                          197.44     |
| 20.       | West Bengal      |                            8.53333  |
| 21.       | Other            |                           67.2067   |
| All India | All India        |                        17067.5      |

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