Lok Sabha Question No. 2265 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Promoting Millets Consumption
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sunita Duggal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2265

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2023

## PROMOTING MILLETS CONSUMPTION

## 2265.SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

- Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken by the Government to promote Millets in G-20 meetings; (b) the measures that the Government has planned/taken to encourage consumption of millets by consumers; (c) whether the Government intends for special provisions to promote millets cultivation in the State of Haryana; (d) whether the Government plans to introduce some interest subvention scheme/capital support for millets growing cultivators and if so, the details thereof; and whether the Government plans to provide incentives to FPOs concerned with the
- (e) harvest of millets including in the State of Haryana and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Coinciding with the International Year of Millets 2023, during the G 20 meetings being held in the current year, millets are being promoted on a large scale through millet meals, millet melas and distribution of millet gift hampers. Further interaction with millet farmers  are  also  taking  place  on  the  sidelines  of  the  G  20  meetings  to  spread  the awareness about millet crops. 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,

month wise action plans have been prepared by Central Ministries, State Governments and Indian Embassies to create awareness about millets for increasing production and demand.

Haryana too has prepared a month wise plan for millet promotion throughout the year  with  activities  such  as  farmers  training,  farmers  awareness  camps,  village  level camps, Bajra  mahotsav , school programmes, road shows, publicity etc.

In addition, states such as Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are implementing State Millet Missions to increase production and consumption.

Further, in order to promote millets, 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 NFSMNutri  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 Centres of Excellence (CoE) 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  AgriInfrastructure 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.To encourage farmers to take up millet cultivation, higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to Jowar, Bajra and Ragi has been announced.

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