India’s Estimates of Millet Procurement
The Government of India is expecting the millet production to increase to forty to fifty lakh tonnes in the next few years. In 2023, the millet production in the country is around six to seven lakh tonnes. According to the Union Government, the increase in millet production is mainly because of nine states. They are MP, UP, Haryana, TN, Gujarat, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. These states launched separate missions to increase their millet production. They are also distributing cereals at subsidized rates.
Why the increase?
Lately, the Government of India has been taken several efforts to increase millet production in the country. Also, it is looking for ways to create international markets for Indian millet. To achieve this, India insisted United Nations declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the UN agreed. We are now celebrating 2023 as the International Year of Millets. More than 72 countries support it. The following programs were launched to boost millet production and exports in the country:
- Mapping and Exchange of Good Practices: Launched by NITI Aayog and WFP in Africa and Asia
- In 2018, millets were declared as “Nutri Cereals”
- Millet Mission was launched under National Food Security Mission
Why the naming?
41% of the world’s millet grows in India. India is one of the largest millet producers in the world. There prevails a hitch in Indian millet production. Though we are one of the largest millet producers, our exports are just 1% of our production. To increase this, GoI is trying its best in every way. The naming of millets after the rivers is one such initiative.
Month: Current Affairs - January, 2023
Category: Economy & Banking Current Affairs