(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Millets: Future of Sustainable Agriculture

(July-2023)

Millets: Future of Sustainable Agriculture

Introduction:

Millets have gained acceptance as nutri-cereals all over the world. These nutri-cereals have the potential to bring nutritional balance to our diet. Most millets have high contents of proteins, fibres, vitamins, and essential minerals and are an attractive gluten-free substitute for cereals. The need of the hour is to ensure the emergence of an appropriate supply-chain and value-chain frompre-productionto processing andmarketing. A challenge that needs to be addressed swiftly is the compliance of exports with sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which will lead to a global demand-pull for millets produced in India.

Overview of millet cultivation in India

India is the world’s leading producer of millet, accounting for 19% of global production and 20% of the world’s millet-growing area.
The three most popular varieties of millet produced in India are pearl millet (bajra), sorghum (jowar), and finger millet (ragi).
The top 10 millet-producing states in India are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. These 10 states account for 98% of millet production in India.
Of these states, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh account for 83% share of millet production.
The recent drive for the promotion of millet is due to nutritional values, environment-friendly cropping patterns, and its remunerative potential.

Nutritional Value of Millets

Nutritional imbalances can have a long-term adverse impact on health and may leave people grappling with medical concerns. Malnourishment can manifest in the form of stunting in children, anaemia in adolescents, diabetes and obesity in adults, etc., and imposes serious challenges in leveraging the economic potential of a nation.
The millets have been tested and tried for enhancing the nutritional sensitivity of people. Millets have gained acceptance as nutricereals all over the world.
These nutri-cereals have the potential to bring nutritional balance to our diet. Most millets have high contents of proteins, fibres, vitamins, and essential minerals and are an attractive gluten-free substitute for cereals. Some nutritional benefits of millets include low absorption of fats and low glycemic indices.

Environmental Sustainability

Adaptability: Millets are versatile crops that can be grown in a variety of conditions. They are drought-resistant and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
Mixed cropping: Millets can be grown in mixed cropping systems, which helps to improve soil fertility and reduce pest pressure.
Irrigation: Millets require less irrigation than other cereals, such as rice and wheat. This makes them a good choice for farmers in areas with limited water resources. Eg: Paddy requires a temperature above 25 degrees with an annual rainfall of above 100 cm whereas jowar can be grown even in areas with less than 20 cm of annual rainfall.
Cropping duration: Millets have a shorter cropping duration than other cereals thereby making them ideal for adopting crop rotation.

Consumption:

The government of India is promoting the consumption of millet through various programs, such as the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN), Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), One District One Product (ODOP) scheme and Sub-mission on Nutri-Cereals under National Food Security Mission.
The Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) will be established in Hyderabad to conduct research on millets and to share best practices with other countries.
Awareness campaigns like publishing commemorative coins and stamps on millet, nutritional programmes by the Food Corporation of India, etc. are being conducted to raise awareness about the benefits of millet to consumers.

Conclusion:

To boost the export of Indian millets, they should comply with the sanitary and phytosanitary standards of the West. Additionally, a robust supply and value chain from pre-production to processing and marketing needs to be established.
The renewed emphasis on millets has the potential to create positive externalities such as improved nutrition for citizens, environmental sustainability, retention of soil fertility, and better incomes for cultivators.