Lok Sabha Question No. 5094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: G-20 Global  Millets Conference
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5094 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND APRIL, 2025

## G-20 GLOBAL MILLETS CONFERENCE

## 5094. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABFLANENI:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to  state:

- (a) whether G-20 Global Millets  Conference was held recently in Delhi;
- (b) if  so, the  details  of  discussions held  in  areas like  farming  of  millets,  millet  economy, health benefits, income to farmers, etc. and conclusions  arrived  at in the conference;
- (c) the efforts being made by the Ministry to ensure that all  States and UTs cultivated millets apart from the present 12-13 States;
- (d) the reaction of the  Government towards increase in  per head consumption of  millets from 3 kgs earlier to more than 13 kgs now; and
- (e) the efforts being made/to be made to push further use ofmillets  per head?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a)&(b): To create domestic and global demand and to provide nutritional food to the people, Government of India had proposed to the United  Nations for declaring the year 2023 as the 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. The Government of India has taken a proactive multi-stakeholder engagement approach (engaging various central government Ministries/Departments,  States/U'fs, farmers, start-ups, exporters,  retail  businesses, hotels, Indian  Embassies etc.) to  achieve the objectives of IYM  and taking Indian millets globally.

The  focus  during InI was  to  enhance production and  productivity, consumption, export, strengthening value chain, branding, creating awareness for  health benefits etc. The Government of India has organized various events to make it  peoples' movement so that the Indian millets, recipes, value added products be promoted globally. Mil]ets were promoted during the G20 presidency in  India, Millet  Culinary carnival, International Trade Events, Chefs  Conference, exhibition  of Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs), road shows, kisan melas, Chefs training for paramilitary forces, ASEAN India Millet  Festival at Indonesia and Delhi 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 bf Excellence for  sharing best practices, research and- technologies at the national and international  level.

(c): A  Sub-Mission on  National Food Security &  Nutrition  Mission (NFSNM)-Nutri Cereals is being implemented in all districts of 28 States &  2 Union  Territories viz.  Jan}mu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Under NFSNM-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, capaciTy building  of farmers through trainings  during  cropping  season, organizing  events/workshops, distribution of seed mini kits, publicity  through print and electronic media etc.

In  addition, Government of India a]so provides flexibility to the states for  state specific needs/priorities under Pradhan Mantri  -  Rashtirya Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PM-RKVY).  The states can promote Millets  (Shree Anna)  under PM-RKVY with  approval of  State Level Sanctioning Committee  (SLSC)  headed by Chief  Secretary of the State.

......3/-

## (d)&(e): The distribution  ofMillets has increasing trend:

| Financial Year   | Distribution of Millets (in MT)   |
|------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2021 -22         | 8,33, 172                         |
| 2022-23          | 6.43 ,169                         |
| 2023-24          | 10,4 1,660                        |
| 2024-25          | 11 ,55,236 (as on 27.03.2025)     |

Department has taken various initiatives to increase Millets Procurement:

- i.  Revision in  Guidelines: Distribution period/Shelf life ofmillets  was increased from earlier 3 months to 6-10 months, thus enhancing higher level of procurement.
- ii. Provision of inter-state transportation of surplus millets through FCI had also been incorporated.
- iii. Increase in  administrative charges on  acquisition stage from  1% to  2%  of  MSP,  to incentivise procurement of millets.
- iv. Inclusion of minor millets in TPDS/OWS: Government has recently expanded scope of procurement of  rnillets  by  states/UTs by  including  minor  millets:  Foxtail  Millet (K.angani/Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), little millet (Kutki), Buckwheat (kuttu) and 'Ameranthus (Chaulai) under MSP scheme on the -MSP of Ragi for next three years (from  2023).

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