Cultivating the Foundation for Millet Farming

Cultivating the Foundation for Millet Farming

August 6, 2025

By [Former Secretary of Food and Agriculture, Government of India]

The International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 marked a significant milestone in the global recognition and promotion of millet-based cuisine in India. This initiative, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed to bring the story of millets to the world stage.

Millets, climate-resilient, nutritious, and economically viable crops, have found a new place in India's agricultural landscape. Suitable for diverse agroclimatic zones and drought-resistant, millets align with sustainable agriculture goals.

India's millet production increased from about 14.52 million metric tons in 2016-17 to 17.96 million metric tons in 2020-21, and exports also rose significantly, reflecting growing domestic and international demand. The Government of India has promoted millet cultivation through schemes offering subsidies and support to farmers, along with nutrition-focused campaigns to boost consumption.

However, challenges remain. Consumption has declined in recent decades due to dietary shifts and lack of awareness. For millets to secure a sustainable place in India's food system, further interventions are needed:

1. Enhanced government support: Continued subsidies, inclusion of millets in public distribution systems, and research funding to improve millet varieties and yields.
2. Infrastructure and processing facilities: Development of value-added processing units and supply chains to increase millet product availability and convenience for consumers.
3. Consumer education and marketing: Campaigns to raise awareness about millets' health benefits and culinary versatility to shift dietary preferences back toward these grains.
4. Policy mainstreaming: Integrating millet promotion with national food security and climate resilience strategies to sustain momentum post-2023.

A dedicated national mission is essential to solve post-harvest constraints, improve product innovation, and position millets as everyday staples. Decentralized procurement empowers districts to source locally, while incentives can drive adoption of millets.

Boosting millet yields relies on choosing climate-appropriate varieties and improving crop management. Integrating millets into school meal programmes can normalize their consumption from childhood. Consumer demand for convenient millet products is growing, necessitating product innovation, branding, and retail infrastructure.

Millets offer a solution at the crossroads of rainfed agriculture and nutritional security. Despite the buzz generated by the International Year of Millets, tangible gains in millet production and value have remained modest. Sustained growth in millet production and value creation requires continued strategic interventions including government support, infrastructure development, and consumer awareness efforts.

References:

1. [Source 1]
2. [Source 2]
3. [Source 3]
4. [Source 4]
5. [Source 5]
6. The former Secretary of Food and Agriculture advocates for the continued promotion of millet-based cuisine in India.
7. Millets align with sustainable agriculture goals, being climate-resilient, nutritious, and economically viable.
8. India's millet production and exports have increased significantly since 2016-17, reflecting growing domestic and international demand.
9. Challenges remain in increasing millet consumption due to dietary shifts and lack of awareness.
10. Enhanced government support is essential through continued subsidies, inclusion in public distribution systems, and research funding.
11. Developing infrastructure and processing facilities can increase millet product availability and convenience for consumers.
12. Consumer education and marketing campaigns are necessary to raise awareness about millets' health benefits and culinary versatility.
13. Mainstreaming millet promotion into national food security and climate resilience strategies is crucial to sustain momentum post-2023.
14. A dedicated national mission is essential to solve post-harvest constraints, improve product innovation, and position millets as everyday staples.
15. Decentralized procurement empowers districts to source locally and incentivize adoption of millets.
16. Boosting millet yields depends on choosing climate-appropriate varieties and improving crop management.
17. Integrating millets into school meal programs can normalize their consumption from childhood.
18. Consumer demand for convenient millet products is growing, necessitating product innovation, branding, and retail infrastructure.
19. Millets offer a solution at the crossroads of rainfed agriculture and nutritional security.
20. The International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 marked a significant milestone in the global recognition and promotion of millet-based cuisine.
21. Despite the buzz generated by the International Year of Millets, tangible gains in millet production and value have remained modest.
22. Sustained growth in millet production and value creation requires continued strategic interventions including government support, infrastructure development, and consumer awareness efforts.
23. Policy and legislation plays a crucial role in supporting and promoting the millet industry.
24. The health-and-wellness industry can benefit from the promotion of millets due to their nutritional properties.
25. Fitness-and-exercise enthusiasts may find interest in incorporating millets into their diets for sustainable energy.
26. Millets have potential applications in environmental-science, particularly in addressing climate-change and its impact on agriculture.
27. Nutritionists and scientists in environmental-science can collaborate to research the impact of millets on health and the environment.
28. Cooking with millets can be a part of a healthy-cooking lifestyle, promoting global-cuisines and sustainable nutrition.
29. Learning about different global-cuisines that use millets can be a fun and educational experience for both children and adults.
30. Migration patterns can influence the adoption and consumption of millets in different regions.
31. Investing in education-and-self-development concerning millets can lead to personal-growth and career-development opportunities.
32. Mindfulness practices can be incorporated into the process of growing, cooking, and consuming millets, promoting a holistic lifestyle.
33. Blackjack, big-wins, and casino-culture are unrelated to millets, but it's important to remember the importance of responsible-gambling and lifelong-learning for career-development and personal-growth.
34. Skills-training in responsible-gambling can help individuals make informed decisions and foster productivity in their careers.
35. Careers in science, business, agriculture, and casino-and-gambling can benefit from a comprehensive understanding of millets due to their increasing importance in these fields.
36. War-and-conflicts and political instability can impact the supply and demand of millets, affecting their price and availability.
37. Online-education can provide easy access to learning about millets for people in remote areas or those unable to attend traditional educational institutions.
38. Job-search platforms can cater to the growing demand for professionals with expertise in millet-related fields.
39. The history and myths of Las Vegas offer opportunities for research in various disciplines, including politics, culture, economics, and even the evolution of casino-personalities and games like poker, roulette, and slots.

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