Tasks for India’s millet revolution

Source– The post is based on the article “Tasks for India’s millet revolution” published in The Hindu on 31st January 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Economic geography. GS1- Cropping patterns in various parts of country

Relevance– Diversification of agriculture for sustainability

News– The article explains some facts and statistics about millets in India. It also explains the issues with millets cultivation in India and steps needed to boost the production of millets.

What are some facts and statistics about millets in the context of India?

Millets have special nutritive properties. They are high in protein, dietary fiber, micronutrients, and antioxidants. They have special agronomic characteristics like drought-resistant and suitable for semi-arid regions.

Two groups of millets are grown in India. Major millets include sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet. Minor millets include foxtail, little millet, kodo, proso, and barnyard millet.

In 2019-20, the total production of nutri-cereals was 47.7 million tonnes. The bulk of this was maize, a non-millet crop used mainly as feed.

The production of sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet along with other millets put together was 18.9 million tonnes.

Currently, millets are procured in only a few States. Stocks in the central pool are small. In May 2022, central stocks had 33 million tonnes of rice but only four lakh tonnes of nutri cereals.

What are issues with millets cultivation in India?

There has been a decline in the area under millet cultivation. Over the last decade, the production of sorghum has fallen, the production of pearl millet and finger millet has stagnated or declined.

The low productivity of millets is another challenge. The productivity of jowar and bajra has increased, but only marginally. The yield of bajra was 1,079 kg per ha in 2010-11 and 1,237 kg per ha in 2017-18.

What are the lessons from the experience of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in promoting the production and consumption of millets in the Kolli hills, Tamil Nadu?

Yield enhancement was attempted by using improved seeds, new agronomic practices, and new technology.

Customised post-harvest machinery was introduced.

Another major initiative was training. Ready-to-cook products were branded.

Net returns from value-added products were five to 10 times higher than from grain.

Yields have risen as a result of improved seeds, agronomic practices and intercropping. There have been significant improvements in incomes from millet farming.

What is the way forward to increase millet cultivation in India?

Increasing the production of millets requires multiple interventions including scientific inputs, institutional mechanisms, and financial support.

There is a need to pay attention to the economics of millet cultivation.

Small farmers in hilly regions and dryland plains are going to cultivate millets only if it gives them good returns. Adequate public support can make millet cultivation profitable.