The International Year of Millets 2023 spotlighted millets globally. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative showcased millet-based cuisine at high-profile events like the G20 dinner. Top chefs from luxury hotels reinvented millet dishes, blending tradition with modern gastronomy. This culinary revival boosted public interest and expanded millet product availability in retail and hospitality sectors. Yet, the key question remains – has this momentum translated into real agricultural growth and economic benefits?
Global Recognition and Culinary Innovation
In 2023, millets gained unprecedented global attention. Events brought into light their nutritional benefits and versatility. Celebrity chefs created gourmet millet dishes, elevating the grain’s status. This helped reshape millets from a rural staple to a trendy, upscale food option. Media coverage and public enthusiasm surged, leading to increased demand for millet-based products like sweets, bakery items, and ready-to-cook blends.
Production and Economic Performance
Despite the hype, millet production has shown little growth over the past decade. Compared to major cereals, millets lag in output and productivity. The gross value of output (GVO) for millets remains stagnant, signalling limited economic gains for farmers. Even with rising Minimum Support Prices (MSPs), the value increase is insufficient to drive large-scale production shifts. This reflects the need for stronger, long-term agricultural strategies.
Strategic Cultivation and Regional Focus
Expanding millet cultivation into rainfed and marginal areas like Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh offers promise. These regions face challenges with paddy farming, making millets a viable alternative. Improving yields depends on selecting climate-suited varieties and enhancing crop management. Some traditional landraces outperform hybrids, indicating the importance of local research and farmer participation. Science and tradition must combine to boost resilience and productivity.
Post-Harvest Challenges and Market Development
Millets face post-harvest issues such as processing difficulties and short shelf life. These limit consumer acceptance and market reach. Addressing these requires innovation in processing and packaging, supported by a national mission involving private sector and research institutions. Consumer demand is shifting towards convenience foods. Millet products must evolve to include ready-to-eat and long-lasting options to compete effectively.
Policy Support and Institutional Integration
Reliable procurement at MSP is vital to build farmer confidence and ensure sustained millet production. Institutional meals, especially school feeding programmes, can normalise millet consumption from an early age. Decentralised procurement encourages local sourcing and supports regional economies. Incentives and awareness campaigns can further promote millets as a solution to nutritional security and sustainable agriculture.
Millets in Food Systems and Future Outlook
Millets align well with India’s emerging Food Systems approach, which integrates nutrition, ecology, and livelihoods beyond mere crop yields. Their adaptability to rainfed conditions and rich nutrient profile position them as a key crop for future food security. Scaling cultivation, improving value chains, and enhancing consumer appeal are critical for millets to become a lasting staple rather than a passing trend.
Questions for UPSC:
- Discuss the role of traditional crops like millets in ensuring nutritional security and sustainable agriculture in India.
- Critically examine the challenges and opportunities in integrating minor millets into mainstream agricultural policies and markets.
- Explain the significance of Minimum Support Price (MSP) in promoting crop diversification. How can MSP reforms impact farmers’ choices and food systems?
- With suitable examples, discuss how institutional procurement and public distribution systems can influence dietary patterns and rural livelihoods in India.
