Millets as Smart-Foods

India produces all the nine commonly known millets and is the largest producer and fifth-largest exporter of millets in the world.

The major millets producing states in India are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Challenges

  • In India, millets were traditionally consumed, but due to the push given to food security through Green Revolution in the 1960s, millets were rendered as ‘orphan crops’ – less consumed and almost forgotten.
  • Before the Green Revolution, millets made up around 40% of all cultivated grains, which has dropped to around 20% over the years.
  • Not only has the consumption of millets declined, but the area under production has been replaced with commercial crops, oilseeds, pulses and maize.
  • These commercial crops are profitable, and their production is supported by several policies through subsidised inputs, incentivised procurement and inclusion in the Public Distribution System.
  • This has resulted in changes in dietary patterns with preferential consumption towards fine calorie-rich cereals.

Significance

  • Nutritionally Rich
  • Climate Resilient
  • Several Health Benefits
  • Ecologically Sustainable

State Action

  • The Government, under the Sub Mission on National Food Security Mission (NFSM) - Nutri-cereals, is creating awareness among farmers for Nutri Cereals (Millets) such as ragi, sorghum, bajra and small millets through demonstration and training.
  • The Government is popularizing Nutri-cereals through Research & Development support.
  • To promote the shipment of Nutri-cereals, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through its apex agricultural export promotion body, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has prepared a comprehensive strategy to promote Indian millets exports across the globe commencing December 2022.
  • For the promotion of Indian Millets and its value-added products, the Centre has developed 30 e-Catalogues on each of the targeted countries comprising information on various Indian Millets and the range of their value-added products available for export.

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