- Geopolitical conflict and severe climate shocks are triggering a necessity-driven shift toward resilient crops like bajra and jowar among Indian farmers.
About Millet Cultivation in India
- Global Leader: India produces 42.75% of global millets, with output of 18.59 MMT from 12.86 million hectares.
- Crop Diversity: Millets are classified into Major Millets (Bajra, Jowar, Ragi) and Minor Millets (Kodo, Foxtail, Proso, Little).
- Season Pattern: Millets are predominantly Kharif crops, though some varieties are cultivated during the Rabi season in southern India.
- Bajra Dominance: Pearl Millet (Bajra) contributes nearly 60% of India’s total millet production, making it the most cultivated millet.
- State Leadership: Rajasthan records the largest millet area and production, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
- Regional Specialisation: Rajasthan leads Bajra, Karnataka Ragi, Maharashtra Jowar, while Madhya Pradesh dominates minor millet cultivation.
Significance of Millet Cultivation in India
- Climate Resilience: Millets tolerate drought, heat stress, and erratic rainfall, making them ideal for climate-change adaptation. E.g., Bajra thrives in arid Rajasthan.
- Nutritional Security: Rich in iron, calcium, fibre, and micronutrients, millets help combat malnutrition and hidden hunger. E.g., Ragi contains nearly 10 times as much calcium as rice.
- Water Conservation: Millets require 70–80% less water than paddy, supporting sustainable agriculture in water-scarce regions. E.g., Bajra cultivation in Haryana.
- Income Stability: Low input costs and resistance to pests reduce production risks and improve profitability. E.g., Farmers shifting from pink bollworm-affected cotton to bajra.
- Food Security: India produces 18.59 MMT of millets and contributes 42.75% of global millet production, strengthening resilient food systems. E.g., International Year of Millets 2023.
Key Drivers for Shift Towards Millets
- Pest Resistance: Rising pink bollworm infestation has reduced cotton yields from 10–12 to 3–4 quintals/acre, pushing farmers towards bajra.
- Lower Inputs: Millets require fewer fertilisers, pesticides, and labour, reducing cultivation costs amid rising input prices.
- Water Efficiency: Bajra needs only 1–2 irrigations compared to 5–7 for cotton, making it suitable for water-scarce regions.
- Cropping Flexibility: Short-duration millet varieties (90–95 days) enable multiple cropping cycles such as Bajra–Mustard–Moong.
- Climate Resilience: With possible subnormal monsoons and fertiliser supply disruptions due to West Asia tensions, millets offer a more resilient farming option.
Government Initiatives for Millets
- Shree Anna Mission: Millets were rebranded as “Shree Anna” in the Union Budget 2023-24 to promote production, consumption, and nutritional awareness.
- NFSM-Nutri Cereals: Under the National Food Security Mission, farmers receive high-yielding seed minikits, demonstrations, and production incentives for millet cultivation.
- PLI Support: The PLI Scheme for Millet-Based Products encourages FMCG companies to develop value-added millet foods with minimum millet-content requirements.
- NutriHub Initiative: Established by ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) to support millet startups, processing technologies, branding, and market linkages.
- MAHARISHI Initiative: Launched during India’s G20 Presidency to promote global research collaboration, innovation, and sustainable millet value chains worldwide.
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Challenges in Millet Cultivation
- Low Consumption: Less than 10% of Indian households consume millets, limiting domestic demand and market expansion.
- Policy Bias: MSP, procurement, and subsidy regimes continue to favour rice and wheat over most millet varieties.
- Value-Chain Gaps: Poor processing, storage, and branding, along with limited value-added products, reduce farmers’ profitability.
- Market Volatility: Inadequate assured procurement and price fluctuations discourage farmers from adopting millet on a large scale.
Way Forward
- Demand Creation: Integrate millets into PDS, PM POSHAN, and nutrition schemes. E.g., leveraging the ‘Shree Anna’ campaign.
- Market Support: Expand MSP and procurement coverage to all millet varieties for assured farmer returns.
- Value Addition: Promote millet-based processed foods through PLI incentives. E.g., minimum 15% millet-content products.
- Research Expansion: Strengthen climate-resilient seed development and innovation ecosystems. E.g., NFSM-Nutri Cereals and Nutrihub initiatives.
“From climate-smart crops to nutrition champions, millets are India’s pathway to resilient agriculture.” With 42.75% of global production and 18.59 MMT output, millets can strengthen food security, farmer incomes, and sustainability.
Reference: The Indian Express | PMFIAS: Millets: Varieties, Benefits & Issues
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 704
Approach
- Introduction: Write a brief introduction about the millet cultivation in India.
- Body: Write key drivers behind the rise in millet cultivation, challenges in sustaining millet cultivation, and suggest measures to sustain and scale this transition.
- Conclusion: Emphasis on a sustainable and climate-smart approach to ensure resilient and food-secure agriculture in India.
