The International Year of Millets (2023) was marked by extensive promotional activities and significant investment, aimed at boosting the cultivation of coarse grains such as millet. However, as the year concluded, the enthusiasm appears to have waned, with a notable decrease in the area under millet cultivation in 2024. According to recent reports from the Ministry of Agriculture, the area under coarse grains has dropped by a record 1.12 million hectares compared to the previous year.
Challenges Faced by Farmers
Despite the high-profile celebrations and substantial budget allocations for promoting millets, the benefits have not trickled down to farmers. The central issue lies in the lack of a robust procurement mechanism. For example, in Rajasthan, the leading millet-producing state, not a single grain of millet was purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). This has forced farmers to sell their produce at lower prices in the open market, undermining the incentive to grow millets.
Current Statistics and Market Prices
As of July 19, 2024, the area under millet cultivation stands at 1.2372 million hectares, down from 1.3491 million hectares at the same time last year. Specifically, the area under pearl millet (bajra) has decreased by 1.59 million hectares. The MSP for millet is set at ₹2,500 per quintal for the 2023-24 marketing season, but farmers are only receiving around ₹2,193.56 per quintal in the open market, which is lower than the previous year’s average of ₹2,211.28 per quintal.
Government’s Role and Farmers’ Concerns
The government’s focus during the International Year of Millets was primarily on consumer awareness and global promotion, rather than on ensuring that farmers benefited directly from these initiatives. The lack of a guaranteed procurement system means that while the celebrations continued, the core issues affecting farmers—such as price security and market access—remained unaddressed.
Farmers argue that without a substantial change in procurement policies and a commitment to purchase at MSP or higher prices, the area under millet cultivation will continue to shrink. The celebrations and international recognition have done little to alter the economic realities faced by those growing these crops.
The International Year of Millets aimed to spotlight the benefits of coarse grains and boost their cultivation. However, without effective procurement policies and price guarantees, the enthusiasm has not translated into tangible benefits for farmers. The current drop in millet cultivation highlights the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure that the promotion of millets results in real, sustainable support for the farming community.
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