Millets — Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and small millets — have made an improbable comeback. Once the staple grain of half of India, they shrank to a marginal crop by the 1990s under the green revolution's rice-wheat monoculture. The International Year of Millets 2023, branded Shree Anna in India, has put them back at the centre of climate-smart agriculture, nutrition security and export promotion. This guide covers the case, the challenges and the policy push.
Why Millets Matter
Millets are dual-purpose (food and fodder), nutrient-dense, hardy, low-input crops that simultaneously address malnutrition, climate change and sustainable agriculture. In India, millets are grown on about 17 mha with an annual production of 18 mt, contributing around 10% to India’s food grain basket.
Government Initiatives
- International Year of Millets 2023 — Indian proposal accepted by UNGA; led to the Shree Anna rebranding at home.
- National Year of Millets 2018 — preceded IYM 2023.
- Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) — focused central scheme for coarse cereals/millets.
- Budget 2023-24 recognised millets as Shree Anna, with enhanced support for IIMR (Indian Institute of Millets Research) Hyderabad as a global Centre of Excellence.
- MSP — millets covered under MSP; bajra, jowar, ragi with annual revisions.
- PDS inclusion — several states include millets in PDS (Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh).
- ICDS and Mid-Day Meal — pilot programmes introducing millets.
- Millets FPO push under the 10,000 FPO scheme.
- Export Promotion — APEDA's dedicated Millets Export Promotion Forum.
Health Benefits
- Millets are three to five times more nutritious than rice and wheat in protein, minerals and vitamins.
- Rich in B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc.
- Gluten-free and low glycaemic index — suited for people with gluten allergies or diabetes.
- Reduces cholesterol and blood sugar.
- FAO has recognised millets' importance for SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health), 12 (Responsible Consumption) and 13 (Climate Action).
Climate Resilience
- Tolerant of abiotic stress — drought, high temperature and soil salinity.
- Tolerant of biotic stress — many millets show pest and disease resistance.
- Integral part of conservation agriculture.
- Carbon sequestration potential supports climate change mitigation.
- Can be grown in marginal lands unsuitable for rice or wheat.
Sustainable Production System
- 2.5 times less water requirement than rice.
- Natural soil conditioner — powerful root systems enhance soil structure.
- Multi-purpose — food, feed, fodder, biofuels, brewing.
- Potential to enhance income in rainfed areas and dryland agriculture.
- Lower input costs — limited fertiliser and pesticide dependence.
Strategies to Promote Nutri-Cereals
Special Agribusiness Zones (SABZ) for Millets
- Focus on millet-specific regions:
- Sorghum in Telangana, Maharashtra.
- Finger millet (ragi) in Karnataka.
- Pearl millet (bajra) in Gujarat, Rajasthan.
- Small millets in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha.
- Build SABZs around FPOs, farm-gate primary processing, warehousing, value-added food products.
Organic and Natural Millets
- Growing consumer demand for organic food.
- Millet-natural farming pairing: low input use aligns with organic/natural farming.
- Promote certifications (PGS-India, NPOP) for millet farmers.
Trade Opportunities
- Millet exports have underperformed relative to potential; quality standards (uniform grade, hygiene, packaging) need tightening.
- Educate farmers on post-harvest quality — drying, winnowing, cleaning.
- APEDA's Millet Export Promotion Forum for market linkage.
Federating Millet Farmers into FPOs
- Pool production, quality control, storage and marketing.
- FPO-led branding and direct-to-consumer channels (e.g., Telangana's "Millet Magic" initiative).
Expanding MSP Coverage
- Cover small millets (kodo, foxtail, barnyard, little millet) under MSP where feasible.
- Direct procurement via FCI, NAFED and state agencies.
Contract Farming
- Institutional buyers (ITC, Patanjali, breakfast cereal makers) contracting directly with FPOs.
Demand-Side Interventions
- Inclusion in ICDS, Mid-Day Meal and PDS.
- Value addition — millet noodles, biscuits, flours, ready-to-eat products.
- Awareness campaigns — Shree Anna branding.
- Labelling — nutritional benefits, GI tags (e.g., Kodo millet of Dindori).
Value Chain Challenges
| Stage | Challenge | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Production | Low yields, low seed replacement rate | HYV seeds, ICAR/IIMR breeding; nutrient management |
| Post-harvest | Lack of primary processing units at farm gate | SABZs, FPO-based processing units |
| Processing | Dehulling and polishing units concentrated in few states | MIDH and PMFME Scheme leverage |
| Marketing | Low consumer awareness in some regions | Shree Anna campaign, retail tie-ups |
| Export | Quality and grading issues | APEDA forum, GI tagging, packaging standards |
Latest Developments (2024-26)
- Shree Anna branding firmly adopted across central and state schemes.
- IIMR Hyderabad designated a global Centre of Excellence for millet research under Budget 2023-24.
- Millet exports grew from USD 62 million in FY22 to over USD 95 million in FY24; Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal and USA are key markets.
- Budget 2025-26 reinforced support for millets through PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and National Mission on Edible Oils & Oilseeds (millet oil seeds components).
- PDS inclusion — several states (Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha) expanded millet distribution via PDS or direct programmes.
- ICDS and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 integrating millet-based supplementary nutrition.
- Millet-based Start-ups — Rs 6,000 crore worth of venture activity in millet processing and branded products since 2022.
- Global Millet Conference 2023 hosted by India; Coalition for Millets initiative launched.
- International Year of Millets 2023 legacy — multi-year work programmes at FAO continue.
UPSC Relevance
GS-III Mapping
- Agriculture — cropping pattern diversification, climate-resilient crops, MSP, FPOs.
- Nutrition & Food Security — PDS, ICDS, Poshan 2.0.
- Environment — climate change adaptation, carbon sequestration.
- Indian Economy — export promotion, value addition.
Prelims Bullets
- International Year of Millets — 2023; UN General Assembly accepted India's proposal.
- Shree Anna — Budget 2023-24 rebranding of millets.
- IIMR Hyderabad — Centre of Excellence for millets.
- Major millets: Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl millet), Ragi (Finger millet).
- Small millets: Kodo, Kutki, Foxtail, Barnyard, Little millet.
- Water requirement: millets need ~2.5x less water than rice.
- National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – Nutri-Cereals component.
- FAO SDGs supported: 2, 3, 12, 13.
Mains Angles
- "Millets are a climate-smart, nutrition-smart and income-smart crop. Why have they remained a niche?" Examine policy and market reasons.
- "Shree Anna is more than rebranding — it represents a structural pivot in India's cropping pattern." Critically discuss.
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