PROMOTING MILLETS

Government of India has been taking significant steps towards actively promoting millet

Millets, also known as Shree Anna, encompass a group of small-grained cereals renowned for their remarkable nutritional profile and adaptability. Recognizing their potential, the United Nations General Assembly, at India’s initiative, declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

Government of India has been taking significant steps towards actively promoting millet. Various schemes and initiatives have been rolled out to support millet farmers and processors.

The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry for Millet-based products (PLISMBP) approved 30 Shree Anna-based proposals with an outlay of Rs. 800crores and the Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Millets) under the National Food Security :

• Mission (NFSM) is a notable example. Loans amounting to Rs. 90.80 Cr have been sanctioned for Shree Anna processing units under the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing

• Enterprises (PMFME) scheme is further fostering entrepreneurship in the sector. In continuation to this, 25 seed hubs have been established to ensure the availability of quality seed and more than 500 start-ups and 350 FPOs have been established and are operational in the millet ecosystem as of now.

• Research and development efforts have been substantial, with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) in Hyderabad designated as the Global Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices and technologies related to millets.

• The establishment of an Export Promotion Forum (EPF) dedicated to promoting millets internationally and the inauguration of the Regional Research Centre for Bajra in Rajasthan underscore the commitment to advancing research and innovation in the millet sector.

• In terms of events, India has spearheaded a global millet movement through various platformssuch as the G20 presidency, Millet Culinary carnival, and International Trade Events.

• The Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference held in March 2023 at IARI, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, inaugurated by the Prime Minister, was instrumental in raising awareness about millets.

• Additionally, a Virtual Trade Fair (VTF) for millets has been established to facilitate global interaction and business negotiations,

• While participation in international trade fairs by APEDA has expanded the reach of millet products in global markets.

All this reflects the growing recognition of millets as a significant component of India’s food landscape and the potential for economic growth and development in the sector.

It may be noted that when to create domestic and global demand and to provide nutritional food to the people, Government of India proposed to the United Nations for declaring year 2023 as International Year of Millets (IYM), it was supported by 72 countries and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as International Year of Millets during March, 2021. The Government of India has taken a proactive multi-stakeholder engagement approach (engaging various central government Ministries / Departments, States/UTs, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian Embassies etc.) to achieve the objectives of IYM 2023 and taking Indian millets globally.

The focus during IYM-2023 was to enhance production and productivity, consumption, export, strengthening value chain, branding, creating awareness for health benefits etc. The Government of India organised various events to make it peoples’ movement so that the Indian millets, recipes, value added products be promoted globally.

The Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad is also providing training to the farmers, women farmers, home makers, students and young entrepreneurs on manufacturing of value-added millet food products, daily recipes etc., and supporting them to establish self-enterprise. The institute has also developed value-added technologies include “Ready to Eat” and “Ready to Cook” for millet foods, branding of millet foods under “Eatrite” tag, organized awareness programmes, agri-business incubator, technology business incubators etc.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has approved the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry for Millet-based products (PLISMBP) for implementation during 2022-23 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 800 crores. 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.

An Export Promotion Forum dedicated to promotion of millets in the international market has been set up to facilitate promotion, marketing and development of millets exports from India. Under the Eat Right campaign, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is creating awareness to promote the use of millets as part of a healthy and varied diet. 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, Government of India also provides flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under Rashtirya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The states can promote Millets (Shree Anna) under RKVY with approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by Chief Secretary of the State. 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 millets.