Lok Sabha Question No. 3415 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Promoting Shree Anna
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Subrata Pathak, Khagen Murmu, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil, Ravindra Kushawaha, Pushpendra Singh Chandel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3415

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  MARCH,2023

## PROMOTING SHREE ANNA

†3415. SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK: SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: SHRI B.B. PATIL: SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to make farmers 'Shree Dhan' from 'Shree Anna'; (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  schemes  being  formulated  by  the Government to promote the cultivation of 'Shri Anna' (coarse grains); (c) whether the Government proposes to link the said scheme to any start-up; (d) the details of 'Shree Anna Scheme' and the reasons for terming this as 'super food'; (e) the details of benefits of Shree Anna for farmers and the steps taken/being taken to popularize the same; and (f)  whether the Government proposes to store more Shree Annas and distribute the same  in  the  regions  of  higher  malnourishment  in  collaboration  with  other

- Ministries and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): Millets (Shree Anna)are also known as super food due to high nutritional features and health benefits. Millets are beneficial to the farmers as theseare cultivated

with  minimal  water  &  inputs.  They  are  cultivated  across  the  country  in  various  agroecological regions, having less infestation/infection of pest and diseases and thus can be grown easily as organic crops.

In  order  to  promote  millets  (Shree  Anna),  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 201819.  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 setting up Centers of Excellence (CoEs) and seed hubs for Nutri Cereals have also been supported under NFSM.

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 Abhiyanis 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.

Government is supporting millet based startups, with the support and assistance from RKVY, IIMR has incubated and hand-held a total of 142 startups in the last 3 years. Through implementation of RKVY Grant Program, Nutrihub could facilitate startups of various  verticals  in  terms  of  product  innovations  &  Artificial  Intelligence  technology interventions in the millet value chain.

(f)  Under  Ministry  of Consumer  Affairs,  Food  and  Public  Distribution,  National  Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 was enacted on 05.07.2013 to provide subsidized foodgrains to the States/UTs. Schedule-l of the Act envisages distribution of Millets (nutri-cereals / coarse grain) at highly subsidized rate of Rs. 1 per kg in addition to wheat and rice. Millets are already a part of Public Distribution System. The procurement, storage and distribution of Millets by States/UTs is done under Decentralized Procurement (DCP) system.

To  improve  the  nutritional  status  of  maternal  and  child  health  in  the  country, Ministry of Women and Child Development, launched POSHAN Abhiyaan on 8th March, 2018 with an aim to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children under 6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.Greater emphasis is being given on the use of millets for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home rations (not  raw  ration)  at  AnganwadiCentres  for  Pregnant  Women,  Lactating  Mothers  and Children  below  6  years  of  age,  as  millets  have  high  nutrient  content  which  includes protein,  essential fatty  acid,  dietary fibre,  B-Vitamins, minerals  such as calcium, iron, zinc, folic acid and other micro-nutrients thus helping to tackle anemia and other micronutrient deficiencies common among women and children.

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