The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) in India recently organised a meeting to discuss the procurement of Kharif produce for 2022-2023. Due to the impact of climate change on wheat and paddy cultivation, the government has considered prioritising coarse cereals. The procurement target for these cereals is doubled from the Kharif crop market, indicating that more coarse grains are likely to appear in rations.
Coarse cereals include crops like sorghum, pearl millet, maize, barley, finger millet, and several small millets such as kodo millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet and barnyard millet. They are typically grown in resource-poor agro-climatic regions of the country and are known for their nutrient-rich content and resilience to climate change.
Significance of Coarse Cereals
Coarse cereals have shown potential in various sectors due to their beneficial traits. These crops are famed for their nutrient-rich content and characteristics like drought tolerance, photo-insensitivity, and resilience to climate change. They hold strong potentials in the food processing industry and are seen as promising exportable commodities.
Aside from their nutritional value, these crops contribute towards employment generation in low rainfall areas where other alternative crops are limited. Coarse cereals are also commonly used to combat malnutrition and serve as contingent crops.
Major Producers and Uses of Coarse Cereals
States producing coarse cereals include Karnataka, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, etc. The use of coarse cereals extends beyond food for humans. They serve as a source of feed for animals and poultry and are used in industrial applications too. Demand for coarse cereals, particularly maize, in poultry feed has seen a rise in India.
The Role of Government in Promoting Coarse Cereals
The government is shifting its focus to coarse cereals due to their resilience to climate change and low cultivation cost. The unpredictable monsoon season of 2022 and its impact on paddy and pulse crops accelerated this shift. Statistics show a rise in the sowing of coarse cereals from 16.93 million hectares in 2021 to 17.63 million hectares in 2022.
To support this shift, the government has taken several initiatives such as the Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millet Promotion (INSIMP). Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs. 300 crores were allocated for promoting millets, offering improved production and post-harvest technologies. Furthermore, the government increased the Minimum Support Price of Millets, providing a big price incentive for farmers.
Government Support Towards Coarse Cereals Cultivation
In addition to the above, the government has introduced provisions for seed kits and inputs for farmers, building value chains through Farmer Producer Organisations, and supporting the marketability of millets. To highlight the importance of these crops, the United Nation General Assembly has adopted an India-sponsored resolution to mark 2023 as the “International Year of Millets”.
The government’s concerted efforts are aimed at ensuring that the country’s food needs are met, despite the erratic weather patterns caused by climate change. Coarse cereals, with their numerous benefits and potential, appear to be a viable solution to this challenge. Their production and promotion will not only ensure food security but also contribute to the socio-economic development of the agriculture sector in India.
