Question : Millets Cultivation

(a) whether various types of millets are grown in various States of the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government is aware that there is a need to create awareness amongst the people about Millets and its health benefits to build a healthy society and the nation and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware that millets can be grown in drought prone regions as they take less water to grow and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to provide financial incentives to encourage farmers to grow more millets in the country and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): Yes. Madam. Various types of millets such as Jowar, Bajra and Small Millets (Finger millets, foxtail, Kodo, Little, Proso and Barnyard Millets) are grown in various states/parts of the country. The State-wise area of millets are at Annexure-I.

To create awareness amongst the people about Millets and its health benefits, the following initiatives have been taken by the Government:-

1. A programme, “Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP)” was launched during 2011-12. Under the scheme three National Centres of Excellences (CoEs) were set up at CCSHAU, Hissar for Pearl Millet, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad for Sorghum and University of Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore for Small Millets. These institutions are working on value addition, development of entrepreneurs and creating awareness amongst consumers for health benefits of millets.

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Under this Scheme, small pre-processing and processing units have also been set up through Progressive Farmers, Entrepreneurs/NGO in the major millets grown states.

(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. Millets are hardy crop suitable for rainfed areas. These crops are largely grown in arid and semi-arid areas under low rainfall (200-600 mm), where fine cereals like wheat and rice cannot be grown profitably. India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of millets. These crops have more feed, fodder and ecological value in arid and semi-arid regions of the country. Besides, the small millets are largely cultivated by tribal farmers for their sustenance.

Therefore, a separate Crop Component on Coarse Cereals which includes millets has been added in National Food Security Mission (NFSM) which is being implemented in 265 districts of 28 States of the country.

Further, to incentivize farmers by ensuring remunerative prices for their produce, the Government of India is increasing Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of Jowar and Bajra over the years.