The United Nations has named 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYoM), after a proposal launched by the Government of India. The government is commemorating the International Year of Millets in order to turn it into a people’s movement and ensure that value-added goods are acknowledged worldwide.
The Central and State Governments have both taken several measures to promote millets (Shree Anna).
The IYoM 2023 action plan focuses on a strategy to improve production, productivity, consumption, export, strengthening value chains, branding, and raising knowledge about health advantages, among other things.
To increase the production of Nutri Cereals for meeting their enhanced demand, the Central Government is implementing the National Food Security Mission – Nutri Cereals (NFSM-Nutri Cereals).
The interventions covered under NFSM-Nutri Cereals include cluster front line demonstrations on improved package of practices, seed distribution & micronutrients, biofertilizers, production of certified seeds of High Yielding Varieties, plant protection chemicals, weedicides, sprayer, efficient water application tools, cropping system based training.
Seed Hubs for millets have also been set up. Further interventions include breeder seed production, production of certified seeds, distribution of seed mini kits (HYVs) etc. Further, States such as Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have initiated Millet Missions in the States to promote millets.
The Government also incentivizes farmers to increase the production and productivity of millets through Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana. It has also fixed the MSP for major millets to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices.
To increase the production of millets based products, a Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been notified by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in June 2022. Millets are also included under the Poshan Abhiyan of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Further, the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution has revised its guidelines to increase the procurement of millets under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal. The Ministry has also advised the State Governments and Union Territories to increase the procurement of millets.
Due to the above efforts of both the Central and State Governments, there has been an increased awareness about health benefits and enhanced demand for millets. The Government is committed to ensure remunerative prices to farmers so that the production and supply increase and keep the prices moderated.
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