Lok Sabha Question No. 240 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Establishment of National Millet Board
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ganesh Singh

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 240

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL MILLET BOARD

*240. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कल्याण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government proposes to establish a separate National Millet Board to provide institutional  support  for  production,  processing,  marketing  and  export  of  millets  (Shree Anna);
- (b)  if so, the likely composition of the said board, its scope, funding mechanism and framework for coordination with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups and women self-help groups;
- (c)  whether the Government has any official data on the current production, consumption and export of millets; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  long  term  strategy  to  make  India  a  global leader in millets, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

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

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 240 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING ' ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL MILLET BOARD'.

(a) & (b): The Government of India has taken several initiatives for promotion of millets (Shree  Anna).  At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  to  establish  a  separate National Millet Board. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare intensively promotes and supports millet farmers through its programmes like the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) for enhancing the production and productivity in the country.

(c): The overall production of millets (Shree Anna) in the country is 180.15 lakh tonnes during 2024-25 (3 rd  advanced estimates, DES, DAFW). The details of Area, Production and Yield of different Millets cropwise during 2024-25 is at Annexure I.

During 2024-25, India has exported 1.21 lakh metric tonnes of millets. The details of cropwise exports under millets during 2024-25 is at Annexure II.

(d): To make India a global leader in Millets, Government of India has taken a proactive multi-stakeholder engagement approach creating domestic & global demand of millets, focusing on strategies to enhance climate resilient Nutri-cereals production, its consumption and branding etc. This is implemented  involving various central  government Ministries/Departments, States/UTs,  farmers,  start-ups,  exporters,  retail  businesses,  hotels,  Indian  Embassies  etc. Following a proposal by India, backed by more than 70 countries, the United Nations General Assembly, at its 75th session in March 2021, declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The  year-long  celebration  successfully  raised  awareness  about  the  nutritional  and  health benefits of Shree Anna consumption and the suitability of millets for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions thereby benefitting the farmers. Further, 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.  To strengthen the research collaboration and public awareness of millets globally, a new initiative viz.,  ' M illets A nd  ot H er A ncient  G R ains I nternational  Re S earc H  I nitiative  (MAHARISHI)  has been adopted during the G20 Presidency.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a SubMission on Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)  to  increase  the  production  and  productivity  of  Shree  Anna  in  the  country.  Under NFSNM-Nutri Cereals, assistance is being provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs, on Crop  production  and  protection  technologies  &  cropping  system-based  demonstrations,  for production  and  distribution  of  certified  seeds,  for  Integrated  Nutrient  and  Pest  Management measures,  for  capacity  building  of  farmers  through  cropping  system-based  trainings,  for organizing events/workshops, etc; and seed minikits of newly released varieties/hybrids, are also distributed through the states by agencies.

Details of Area, Production and Yield of Millets during 2024-25

| S No          | Crop          |   Area (Lakh ha.) |   Production (Lakh Tonnes) |   Yield (Kg/ha.) |
|---------------|---------------|-------------------|----------------------------|------------------|
| 1             | Sorghum       |             39.84 |                      48.8  |             1225 |
| 2             | Bajra         |             72.1  |                     108.63 |             1507 |
| 3             | Ragi          |             12.29 |                      18.34 |             1492 |
| 4             | Small Millets |              4.42 |                       4.38 |              992 |
| Total Millets | Total Millets |            128.65 |                     180.15 |             1400 |

## Details of Exports of Millets from India during 2024-25

| S No          | Crop          |   Quantity (Lakh MT) |   Value (INR Crores) |
|---------------|---------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| 1             | Sorghum       |                 0.38 |               155.07 |
| 2             | Bajra         |                 0.56 |               192.71 |
| 3             | Ragi          |                 0.19 |                65.45 |
| 4             | Small Millets |                 0.09 |                89.12 |
| Total Millets | Total Millets |                 1.21 |               502.35 |

* Source: DGCIS

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## Annexure II