9 months ago
Union Minister Urges Scientists to Develop High-Quality Millet Seeds for Farmers
Imagine tiny grains called millets, which are very healthy and good for the earth.
A big leader in India, the Agriculture Minister, told scientists that they need to make the seeds for these grains even better.
The goal is to help farmers grow more millets easily and sell them for more money, making it a super popular crop.
One state, Odisha, is already doing a great job growing more millets and even buys them from farmers at a good price.
They also give millets to kids in school for their meals!
The minister wants other states to do the same because eating millets is healthy and good for the soil.
Millets are also a good choice because they don't need a lot of chemicals that can harm us and the planet.
The minister promised to help states do more to grow and promote these healthy grains, especially helping women farmers who are great at growing them.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged scientists to develop high-quality millet seeds to enhance profitability for farmers.
The minister emphasized the need for farmers to divert towards millet cultivation for better financial benefits.
Odisha has doubled its millet production and is the only state procuring millets from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The Odisha government provides input subsidies and includes millets in the mid-day meal scheme for school children.
Chouhan highlighted millets as a step towards organic farming, beneficial for human health, soil, and climate.
- Who
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, agriculture scientists, farmers (especially women and tribal farmers), and school students.
- What
- A call for the development of high-quality millet seeds to increase profitability for farmers and promote millet cultivation, alongside discussions on processing, procurement, and health benefits.
- Where
- Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
- When
- Monday, on the occasion of 'Mandia Divas' (Millets Day).
- Why
- To make millets a more profitable crop for farmers, encourage their cultivation, promote healthy eating habits, support organic farming, and empower women and tribal farmers.
Government Focus on Millet Promotion
Challenges and Current Limitations
Profitability and Crop Diversification
Government Focus on Millet Promotion
The Union Agriculture Minister urges scientists to develop high-quality millet seeds to make millet cultivation more profitable, encouraging farmers to switch to this crop.
Challenges and Current Limitations
Farmers are currently looking for crops with better financial returns, and making millet a profitable crop is seen as a challenge that requires scientific intervention.
Government Support and Procurement
Government Focus on Millet Promotion
The Union Minister emphasizes the need for states to procure millets at Minimum Support Price (MSP) to promote the crop, highlighting Odisha as the only state doing so. He also suggests expanding Odisha's mid-day meal millet scheme nationally.
Challenges and Current Limitations
While Odisha procures millets and provides input subsidies, the article implies that many states do not procure millets, and there is a general need to improve market forces and quality control nationally.
Organic Farming and Health Benefits
Government Focus on Millet Promotion
Minister Chouhan points out that fertilizers, chemicals, and pesticides are harmful to human health, soil, and the climate, positioning millet cultivation as a step towards organic farming.
Challenges and Current Limitations
The article focuses on the potential benefits and promotion of millets, without explicitly detailing opposing views on organic farming versus conventional methods, though the minister's statement implies a negative aspect to chemical inputs.
Key facts
- Event
- International Symposium on Shree Anna (Millet) and Woman Farmer
- Occasion
- Mandia Divas (Millets Day)
- Key Official
- Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Odisha's Millet Production
- Increased from 6 quintal/hectare to 12 quintal/hectare
- Millet Procurement
- Odisha is the only state procuring millets from farmers at MSP
- Odisha's Input Subsidy
- Rs 26,500 per hectare for millet farmers
- Millet Cultivation Area in Odisha
- Expanded to all 30 districts from initial 30,000 hectares
Quotes
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister
“The farmers are looking for crops which will give them better financial benefits. So, it is a challenge before us to make millet as a profitable crop so that the farmers can divert toward the cultivation of millets.”
thehansindia.com
“Still, there is a huge task before our scientists to further improve the quality of the millet seeds and reduce the cultivation cost to enhance the production. We will continue our efforts in this regard in the coming days.”
thehansindia.com
Mohan Charan Majhi
Odisha Chief Minister
“Millet or ‘Mandia’, which was known as a tribal food, has now been promoted as a ‘super food’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the tribal and women farmers will benefit from the move.”
thehansindia.com
K V Singh Deo
Deputy Chief Minister
“Millets are deeply rooted not just in our soil but also in our culture and tradition. Women farmers are truly the heart of our agricultural legacy. They have been the guardians of seeds and biodiversity conservation across generations.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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