Lok Sabha Question No. 1443 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Price of Indigenous Foodgrains
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1443

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## PRICE OF INDIGENOUS FOODGRAINS

## 1443. SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI): SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the price of indigenous foodgrains like jowar, bajra and ragi is very high in spite of the Union and State Governments promoting millets as a health enhancing foodgrain and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (b) whether the Government proposes to reduce the price of such foodgrains if so, the details thereof, and not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री

(SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) & (b) The year 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets (IYoM)  by the  United  Nations  on  the  proposal  initiated  by  the  Government  of  India.  The Government  is  celebrating  the  International  Year  of  Millets  to  make  it  a  people's movement so that value-added products are accepted globally. Both the Central and State Governments have taken numerous steps for promoting millets (Shree Anna). The  action  plan  of  IYoM  2023  focuses  on  a  strategy  to  enhance  production, productivity, consumption, export, strengthening the value chains, branding and also creating awareness for health benefits etc.

To  increase  the  production  of  Nutri  Cereals  for  meeting  their  enhanced demand, the Central Government is implementing the National Food Security Mission - Nutri Cereals (NFSM-Nutri Cereals). The interventions covered under NFSM-Nutri Cereals include cluster front line demonstrations on improved package of practices, seed distribution & micronutrients, biofertilizers, production of certified seeds of High Yielding  Varieties,  plant  protection  chemicals,  weedicides,  sprayer,  efficient  water application tools, cropping system based training. Seed Hubs for millets have also been  set  up.  Further  interventions  include  breeder  seed  production,  production  of certified  seeds,  distribution  of  seed  mini  kits  (HYVs)  etc.  Further,  States  such  as

Uttarakhand,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Tamil  Nadu,  Assam,  Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have initiated Millet Missions in the States to promote millets.

The  Government  also  incentivizes  farmers  to  increase  the  production  and productivity of millets through Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana. It has also fixed the MSP for major millets to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices.

To increase the production of millets based products, a Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been notified by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in June 2022. Millets are also included under the Poshan Abhiyan of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Further, the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution has revised its guidelines to increase the procurement of millets under the Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal. The Ministry has also advised the State Governments and Union Territories to increase the procurement of millets.

Due to the above efforts of both the Central and State Governments, there has been an increased awareness about health benefits and enhanced demand for millets. The Government is committed to ensure remunerative prices to farmers so that the production and supply increase and keep the prices moderated.

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