Lok Sabha Question No. 2333 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Millets Production and Demand
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2333

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  AUGUST, 2024

## MILLETS PRODUCTION AND DEMAND

2333.  SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of millets production and demand in the country during the last five years and the current year, year-wise and variety-wise;
- (b) details  of  major  millet  producing  States  in  the  country,  with  a  particular  reference  to Andhra Pradesh;
- (c) to what extent entry of multinational companies into millets segment and launch of new products  such  as  millets-based  pasta,  noodles,  snacks,  inclusion  of  millets  in  breakfast cereals and increased consumption of millets in flour, etc., is pushing demand and helps in achieving the objectives set in the International Year of Millets; and
- (d) the details of steps taken by the Government in encouraging Millet-based Startups which are struggling to source enough supplies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी

(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) to (d): The production of Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and Small Millets in the country during the last five years and the current year is given below:

(lakh tonnes)

| Crop          |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24* |
|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|
| Jowar         |     34.75 |     47.72 |     48.12 |     41.51 |     38.14 |      47.42 |
| Bajra         |     86.64 |    103.63 |    108.63 |     97.81 |    114.31 |     106.69 |
| Ragi          |     12.39 |     17.55 |     19.98 |     17.01 |     16.91 |      15.63 |
| Small Millets |      3.33 |      3.71 |      3.47 |      3.67 |      3.84 |       4.34 |
| Total         |    137.11 |    172.61 |    180.21 |    160    |    173.21 |     174.08 |

The  major  millets  (Shree  Anna)  producing  states  include  Rajasthan,  Uttar  Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Indian  Institute  of  Millets  Research  (IIMR),  Hyderabad  has  developed  value-added technologies such as 'Ready to Eat' and 'Ready to Cook' for millet foods, branding of millet foods  under  'Eatrite'  tag,  organized  awareness  programmes,  agri-business  incubator, technology  business  incubators  etc.  IIMR,  Hyderabad  provides  training  to  the  farmers, women farmers, home makers, students and young entrepreneurs on manufacturing of valueadded millet food products, daily recipes etc., and support them to establish self-enterprise. 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. Multinational Companies has also introduced a wide range of millet based  products  including  breakfast  cereals,  drinks,  idli/dosa  mixture, flour, cookies and infant foods.

Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  'Innovation  and AgriEntrepreneurship  Development'  programme  under Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY) from  2018-19,  with  the  objective  of  promoting  innovation  and  agri-entrepreneurship,  by providing financial and technical support for nurturing startups. Under the programme, financial support upto Rs. 5 lakh is provided at the idea/pre seed stage and upto Rs. 25 lakh at the seed stage to entrepreneurs/ startups in agriculture & allied sector including millet sector to launch their products, services, business platforms, etc in the market and to facilitate them in scaling up.

- *********