Lok Sabha Question No. 139 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Production and Consumption of Millets
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Brijendra Singh, Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 139

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF MILLETS

*139.  SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH: DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to increase the production and consumption of millets including Pearl Millet (Bajra) across the country in the light of International Year of Millets; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the crops that are being covered under such measures; (c)  the  details  of  millets  including  Pearl  Millet  (Bajra)  production  in  the  year  2022-23  as compared to previous years; (d) whether the production of millets including Pearl Millet (Bajra) has shown an upward trend compared to previous years; and (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 139 FOR 12 TH DECEMBER, 2023 REGARDING 'PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF MILLETS'

(a) & (b): 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 (IYM). The proposal of India was supported by 72 countries and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as International Year of Millets during  March,  2021.  The  Government  of  India  has  taken  a  proactive  multi-stakeholder engagement  approach  (engaging  various  central government  Ministries/Departments, States/UTs, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian Embassies etc.) to achieve the objectives of IYM 2023 and taking Indian millets globally.

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. The Government of India is celebrating the year 2023 as 'International Year of Millets' to make it peoples' movement so that the Indian millets, recipes, value added products be promoted globally. Millets were promoted during G20 presidency in India, Millet Culinary  carnival,  International  Trade  Events,  Chef's  Conference,  exhibition  of  Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs), road shows, kisan melas, Chef's training for paramilitary forces, ASEAN India Millet Festival at Indonesia etc.

A key event organized towards International Year  of Millets  was the Global  Millets (Shree Anna) Conference, held from 18th - 19th March 2023 at IARI Pusa campus, New Delhi which was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. To make India a global hub for 'Shree Anna', the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad has been declared as the Global Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies at the national and international level.

The Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad is also providing training to the  farmers,  women  farmers,  home  makers,  students  and  young  entrepreneurs  on manufacturing of value-added millet food products, daily recipes etc., and supporting them to establish self-enterprise. The institute has also developed value-added technologies include '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.

During 2014 to 2023, a total of 229 Millets varieties comprising 67 of Sorghum, 68 of Pearl millet; 19 of Little millet; 7 of Proso millet; 11 of Kodo millet; 40 of Finger millet; 10 of Foxtail millet, 1 of Brown top millet and 6 of Barnyard millet have been released by Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) for cultivation in different agro-ecologies of country.

The new Regional Research Centre for Bajra at Gudamalani, near Barmer, Rajasthan has been inaugurated on 27th September, 2023.  To strengthen the research collaboration and  public  awareness  of  millets  globally,  a  new  initiative  viz.,  'Millets  and  OtHer  Ancient GRains International ReSearcH Initiative (MAHARISHI) has been adopted during the G20 Presidency.

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. 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.

An  Export  Promotion  Forum  dedicated  to  promotion  of  millets  in  the  international market has been set up to facilitate promotion, marketing and development of millets exports from India. Under the Eat Right campaign, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is creating awareness to promote the use of millets as part of a healthy and varied diet. In continuation to the efforts towards mainstreaming millets, a 'Millets Experience Centre (MEC)' has been opened at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi with an aim to raise awareness on Millets and encourage its adoption among general public.

To  encourage  consumption  of  Shree  Anna  among  government  employees,  all Government  offices  have  been  advised  to  include  Shree  Anna  snacks  in  departmental trainings/meetings and Shree Anna based food items in departmental canteens.

In  order  to  increase  the  production  &  productivity  of  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  all  districts  of  28 States & 2 Union Territories viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Nutri-Cereals (millets) such as Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua), Minor Millets i.e.,

Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/ Jhangora), Little Millet (Kutki) and two Pseudo Millets Buck-wheat (Kuttu) and Amaranthus (Chaulai) are covered under NFSM programme.

Under NFSM-Nutri Cereals, the 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.

In addition, Government of India also provides flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under Rashtirya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The states can promote Millets (Shree  Anna)  under  RKVY  with  approval  of  State  Level  Sanctioning  Committee  (SLSC) headed  by  Chief  Secretary  of  the  State.  In  addition,  states  such  as  Assam,  Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have initiated Millet Missions in the States to promote millets.

(c) to (e): The production of Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) and bajra during 2022-23 was 173.20 lakh tonnes and 114.31 lakh tonnes respectively compared to 160 lakh tonnes and 97.81  lakh  tonnes  during  2021-22  which  is  8%  and  17%  increase  in  production  over  the previous year. The upward trend has been seen in case of  bajra in comparison to other millets during 2022-23 over the previous years except during 2021-22. The details of millets production including Pearl millet (Bajra) during 2021-22 and 2022-23 is as under;

| S.No.   | Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna)   | Production (in Lakh Tonnes)   | Production (in Lakh Tonnes)   |
|---------|------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| S.No.   | Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna)   | 2021-22                       | 2022-23                       |
| 1       | Bajra                        | 97.81                         | 114.31                        |
| 2       | Jowar                        | 41.51                         | 38.14                         |
| 3       | Ragi                         | 17.01                         | 16.91                         |
| 4       | Small Millets                | 3.67                          | 3.84                          |
|         | Total                        | 160.00                        | 173.20                        |

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