Since millets (bajara) are highly nutritious when compared to other cereals, the Centre is planning to distribute it to citizens through the public distribution system and include it in mid-day meal schemes.
According to Union Agriculture Secretary SK Pattanayak, “The Ministry is trying to ensure millets are brought under the PDS (Public Distribution System) and schemes like mid-day meal. Niti Aayog has also suggested this should be part of the PDS. Storing millets for long is an issue at present, there is a need to increase the shelf life of millets.”
“The Government is thinking of promoting millets as ‘nutri-cereals’ and is already in the direction of making the storage facility of the cereal better, Pattanayak added.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is working on the issue of low yields and storage and is likely to release some high yielding varieties soon, he said.
The Union Agriculture Secretary also suggested that the states should promote setting up of farmer producers organisations (FPOs) for better production and marketing of millets, ensuring higher income to farmers.
Since the millets can be grown using less water and dry land, it would be a blessing to farmers who have been suffering due to failure of monsoon, Pattanayak said. Pattanayak further said that there may be requirement of mechanical harvester for millets. The central government is already working in this direction.
Millets are a group of highly variable small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops. Some of the varieties of millets are bajra, ragi, sorghum, jowar , brown top millets ( korle), little millet (samai) and Indian barnyard millet.
“Malnutrition is mainly caused due to low protein levels in the body. Finger millets and barnyard millets will increase protein content in the body. Plus, millets are low glycemic functional food which prevents non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardio-vascular diseases and cancers,” Ministry officials said.
Notably, Tamil Nadu government has already introduced millets in the mid day meal programme.