Millets Could Help India Mitigate Malnutrition And Climate Change

Context: India is the largest global producer of millets with a 41% market share. India should incentivize the production of these versatile crops to enhance our food security and score gains on climate resilience.

Policy initiatives for promotion of millets farming

• The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets, as proposed by India to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• Millet Mission (2018), under National Food Security Mission, led to the promotion of technological interventions, improvement in seed quality and a minimum support price (MSP) for bajra and jowar.
• Millet Network of India and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation were involved in collective formation efforts to boost the domestic growth of millets.
• Crop sensitization leveraging cultural connection: 
  • Re-introduction of cultural associations and festivals, such as the North-East Network in Nagaland organized in 2020 and Mandukiya in Vishakhapatnam celebrated annually in June/July, has helped promote the growth of millets.
  • In 2018, the #LetsMilletCampaign in Bengaluru saw the avant-garde use of millets in dishes such as risotto and pizza by restaurateurs.

Benefits of millets farming promotion

• Restoration of ecosystems and sustainability: In line with the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-30), local practices can support rural economies.
  • Inter-cropping of millets with other crops is beneficial as fibrous roots of millet plants help in improving soil quality, keep water run-off in check and aid soil conservation in erosion-prone areas, thereby restoring natural ecosystems.
• Climate resilience: They can withstand extreme temperatures, floods and droughts.
  • Millets have a low carbon footprint of the 3,218-kilogram equivalent of carbon dioxide per hectare, as compared to wheat and rice, with 3,968kg and 3,401kg.
  • Low energy requirement: Estimates also suggest that millets can deliver greater returns than maize while using 40% less energy in processing.
• Biofuel potential: A study conducted among farmers in Madhya Pradesh showed that bio-ethanol could be created using sorghum (jowar) and pearl millet (bajra), and this fuel could bring down carbon emissions by half and help India achieve target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025.
• Addressing SDGs: Can play a significant role in poverty reduction, and provide food, nutrition, fodder and livelihood security and contributes to women’s empowerment - Eg. The Odisha Millet Mission saw 7.2 million women emerge as ‘Agri-preneurs’.

Challenges in millets farming

• Market and economic barriers: Inadequate government policies, unjust pricing and value wringing by intermediaries have led to farmer distress.
• Low demand, especially in urban markets: Indian age and education-level trends went against this cereal grain.

Way forward: Policies are needed to protect the livelihood of farmers, incentivize the adoption of inter-cropping, provide crop insurance, support for storage facilities and millet marketing policies be broadened.