Lok Sabha Question No. 684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Excellence Centres under NFSM
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## INISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.684 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2023

## EXCELLENCE CENTRES UNDER NFSM

## 684.  SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ©r€tnr qTta, ©TV Bir IIT#tf+q fq7WT +gt be pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to establish any new excellence centres under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), if  so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (b) whether there are going to be any excellence centers in the state of Rajasthan, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the initiatives that are being taken by the Government to incentivize the farmers who are producing coarse grains especially millets;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to  promote the enhanced consumption of millets;  and
- (e) if so, the efforts taken/being taken in that direction?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a): Under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) there is no such proposals for establishment of new centres of excellence.
- (b): Under the  auspices  of  Indian  Council of  Agricultural Research (ICAR) Indian Institute  of Millets  Research (lIMR) dedicated as the 'Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (Shree Anna)', a new Regional Research Center for Bajra at Barmer, Rajasthan was inaugurated on 27 September, 2023.

(c):  in order to  increase production and productivity of Shree Anna, the Department of  Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is  implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals under NFSM in all districts of 28 States & 2 Union Territories viz.  Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. 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 eertified  seeds of newly released varieties/ hybrids, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management techniques, improved farm  implements/tools/resource conservation  machlneries, 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, 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 Shree Anna. To make India a global hub for 'Shree Anna', the  Indian Institute  of  Millets  Research (lIMR), Hyderabad has been declared as the  Centre of  Excellence for  sharing best practices, researeh and technologies at the national and international level.

(d) & (e): The Department of Agriculture  & Farmers Welfare took a proactive approach in  mainstreaming Shree Anna through various International and national events and expo such as Dubai Expo 2022, Suraj Kund Mela 2022, Aahar- The International  Food & Hospitality Fair 2022, BIOFACH India 2022, SARAS Food Festival 2022, etc.  showcasing the  diversity  of  various Shree Anna based value-added products.  Shree Anna was  also  showcased at the FAO's 9th Session of the Governing body of International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for  Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) at  New Delhi in September 2022, 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. In contInuation to the efforts towards mainstreaming Shree Anna, a 'Millets  Experience Centre (MEG)' has been opened at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi with  an aim to  raise awareness on Shree Anna and encourage its adoption among general public.  In order 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 addition, Millets were also promoted during G20 presIdency in India, Millets CuIInary carnival, International Trade Events, CheFs Conference, exhibition  of  Farmer Produeer Organizations (FPOs), CheFs training  for  paramilitary  forces,  ASEAN Indian Millet Festival at Indonesia etc.

In order to  improve level of nutrition among the beneficIaries covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013, all the States/UTs have also been advised to  procure millets  and distribute for  NFSA beneficiaries as per local consumption preference and as per the guidelines of the Government of Indian

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