Uttar Pradesh, the second largest millet producing state, is looking to expand the exports of this agricultural commodity.
According to a government official, the UP government is now taking proactive steps to increase the acreage of millets by reviving the traditional and indigenous crops under the rain-fed farming system.
“Millet provides a spectrum of low risk crops, which are resilient to climate change. The state government has planned to promote the cultivation of such nutritious cereals in rain-fed areas,” he said.
The Yogi Adityanath government is aiming to increase the bajra acreage from 9.8 lakh hectares to over 10 lakh hectares and hike its production from 24.55 quintal per hectare to 25.53 quintal per hectare. The state also plans to expand the jowar acreage from 2.15 lakh hectares to 2.24 lakh hectares. Some of the major millet crops grown in UP are jowar, bajra, kodo and sanwa.
UP produces five million tonnes of millet, which is 20 per cent of India’s annual output. India is the world’s fifth largest millet exporter with exports rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3 per cent. Shipments from India were valued at $27 million in 2020-21.
The global export of millet increased from $380 million in 2019 to $402 million in 2020 owing to growing consumer preference for healthy and organic food.