Lok Sabha Question No. 3365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Cultivation of Coarse Cereals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi, Andimuthu Raja

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFAGRICULTUREANDFARMERSWELFAREDEPARTMENTOFA GRICULTUREANDFARMERSWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3365

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  MARCH,2023

## CULTIVATION OF COARSE CEREALS

3365.   SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI: SHRI A. RAJA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान क  याण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of steps taken by the Government to encourage farmers to take up cultivation of coarse cereals like bajra, jower, ragi, etc.;
- (b) whether any R&D support is being provided for popularizing nutritious millets and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether minimum support price was/is being given for these millets and if so, the details thereof for the last three years, cereal-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): In order to promote cultivation of millets (Shree Anna)likeJowar, Bajra, Ragi etc.;the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a Sub-Mission 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  setting  up  Centers  of  Excellence  (CoEs)  and  seed  hubs  for  Nutri Cereals have also been supported under NFSM.

In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  has  approved  the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry for Millet-based products (PLISMBP) for implementation during 2022-23 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 800 crores. The Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, launched  under  the  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  Abhiyanbis  currently  being  implemented  in  35 States  and  Union  Territories  (UTs).  Government  is  also  popularizing  Agri-Infrastructure Fund  Scheme  to  invite farmers/FPOs/Entrepreneurs  to  avail the benefit of interest subvention on loans up to 2 crores for setting up primary processing units in millets (Shree Anna).To encourage farmers to take up millet cultivation, higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to Jowar, Bajra and Ragi has been announced.

Further, in view of 2023 being celebrated as International Year of Millets (IYM), the Government of India is implementing a multi stakeholder approach with focus on strategies to  enhance  production  and  productivity,  consumption,  export,  strengthening  value  chain, branding, creating awareness for health benefits etc.

The  first  Global  Event  for  IYM  was  organised  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  & Farmers  Welfare  on  18 th   March  2023.  The  occasion  was  graced  by  the  Hon'ble  Prime Minister of India whereinIYM engraved stamp and currency coin were also launched. As part of the event, participants from 100 countries including six Agriculture Ministers from leading millet producing/ exporting countries, international organizations, scientists, Padma Awardees,  farmers,  FPOs,  international  companies  etc.  participated.  Moreover,  a  global level Exhibition-cum-Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) in collaboration with APEDA was organized with focus on millets with participation of domestic and international exporters for promotion of  millets.  Several  other  stakeholders  such  as  farmer  producer  companies/  farmers,  selfhelp  groups,  schools,  agri-universities,  Krishi  VigyanKendras  (KVKs),  gram  panchayats, cooperative  institutions,  hotel  management  schools,  yuvakendras,  anganwadis,  Indian embassies, Ministry of Railways and diaspora, etc. also participated in the event online.

(b): Government  is  providing  R&D  support  to  Research  Institutions  for  popularizing nutritious millets. ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad is undertaking various  research  projects  related  to  shelf-life,  food  standards,  database  development  etc. funded  under  NFSM.  Central  Food  Technological  Research  Institute  (CSIR-CFTRI)  is undertaking R&D projects to tackle the bottlenecks in millet processing, value addition and product  development.  Under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Formalization  of  Micro  Food  Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme of Government of India, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru has conducted several Training and Skill development programmes to enhance competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises, including millet based industries in the unorganized segment. Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors  Rejuvenation  (RKVY-RAFTAAR)  program  a  Centre  of  Excellence  for  Processing Millets  and  incubation  centre  is  being  set  up  consisting  of  around  8  processing  lines dedicated  to  millets.  These  lines  will  help  in  obtaining  quality  primary  and  secondary products  with  enhanced  shelf-life.  ICMR-National  Institute  of  Nutrition  is  conducting  R&D activities on millets such as on nutritional values of various processed and cooked millets, efficacy of cooked millet diet,effect of finger millet based dietary supplementation.

(c): Minimum  Support  Price  is  being  given  for  three  millets  viz.  Jowar,  Bajra  and Ragi, the details for the last three years is as under:

(Rs. per quintal)

|   S. No. | Crop             |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |
|----------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|        1 | Jowar (Hybrid)   |      2620 |      2738 |      2970 |
|        1 | Jowar (Maldandi) |      2640 |      2758 |      2990 |
|        2 | Bajra            |      2150 |      2250 |      2350 |
|        3 | Ragi             |      3295 |      3377 |      3578 |

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