Lok Sabha Question No. 947 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Millet Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 947

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## MILLET PRODUCTION

## 947. SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

- (a) the efforts being made by the Government to ensure that the country remains at the forefront in the production of millets especially Bajra;
- (b) the efforts being made by the Government to ensure more and more consumption of millets especially Bajra throughout the country to fight against malnutrition; and
- (c) the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  supply  of  millets especially Bajra produced in Gujarat reaches throughout the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  is  implementing  a Sub-Mission  on  Nutri-Cereals  (Millets)  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  to enhance area, production & productivity of millets including bajra. Under this Sub-Mission, bajra  is  being  promoted  in  89  districts  of  9  states  including  14  districts  of  Gujarat.  North Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been given flexibility to include the districts under programme. Through the efforts made by the Government, the production of millets has increased from 14.52 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 17.96 million tonnes in 2020-21. The production of bajra has also increased from 8.07 million tonnes to 10.86 million tonnes during the same period. The State Governments can also  promote  cultivation  of  millets  and  bajra  under  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture & Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY- RAFTAAR) with the approval of the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) constituted under the chairmanship of the chief secretary of the State.

O.I.H.

(b): In view of the nutritional value of the millets, the Government has notified millets as nutri-cereals in April, 2018. The Millets are a rich source of Protein, Fibre, Minerals, Iron, Calcium  and  have  a  low  glycemic  index.  The  National  Year  of  Millets  was  celebrated  in 2018. 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  (IYoM).  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 is popularizing nutri-cereals through Research & Development support and has established 3 Centres of Excellence (CoE). Support is also given to  start-ups  and entrepreneurs for  developing recipes  &  value added products  that promotes  consumption  of  millets.  8  bio-fortified  varieties/hybrids  of  Bajra  have  been released for cultivation from 2018 to till date.

(c ): In  order  to  facilitate  the  movement  of  the millets,  Government has already revised the  guidelines  for  movement  of  the  surplus  production  of  millets  to  other  states.  The provision of inter-state transportation of surplus millets through Food Corporation of India (FCI) is incorporated to cater for advance demand placed by consuming state before the start of procurement.

*****