Millets Production

Rajasthan farmers get free seed kits under state govt's millet push

The agriculture and allied sectors contribute 27 per cent to Rajasthan's gross domestic state product

Rajasthan govt to give free seed kits to boost millets production

Some of the hotels and restaurants in the Rajasthan are also serving dishes made with millets after a request made by the CM

Pongal reflects the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the festival of Pongal reflects the national spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' and the same emotive connect could be witnessed in Kashi-Tamil and Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam. In his address at the Pongal celebrations held at the residence of Union Minister L Murugan in the national capital, Modi said festive fervour marked every home in Tamil Nadu and wished joy, prosperity and contentment in the lives of all the people. Drawing similarities to India's diversity with 'Kolam,' the prime minister said that when every corner of the country connects emotionally with each other, the nation's strength appears in a new form. Considered as a welcome symbol and a sign of auspiciousness, Kolam is a popular art form, which involves making drawings on the ground --at the entrance portion to the house-- using a variety of rice flour. Modi said: "The festival of Pongal reflects the national spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat." The same spirit can

Indore college prepares edible crockery from millets to replace plastic

The institute claims it will help people to choose alternatives to plastic and using edible crockery will also improve their health

30 cos taking advantage of PLI scheme to make millet-based products: Govt

Around 30 companies, including 22 MSMEs, are taking advantage of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing millet-based products, according to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The PLI for Millet Based Products (PLISMB) was carved out of the savings of the main PLI Scheme for the Food Processing Industries (PLIFPI) to encourage the use of millets in Ready to Cook/Ready to Eat (RTC/RTE). According to the ministry, around 30 companies, including 22 MSMEs, are involved in the promotion of millet-based products under the PLISMBP. The PLISMBP scheme -- approved in August with an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore arising out of the savings from other segments -- envisages the use of a minimum of 15 per cent millet content in the approved food products, it said in a statement. Otherwise, under the PLISFPI, 176 proposals under different categories have been approved so far and about Rs 584.30 crore incentive has been released, it added.

Lenovo provides tech support to revive indigenous millets in Kerala

To revive indigenous varieties of millets in the country, technology company Lenovo has been providing digital and technical support at Kanthalloor in Kerala to grow six varieties of the cereal. Under its Work for Humankind Initiative, Lenovo set up a digital centre at the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) College for Applied Sciences, Kanthalloor, to provide access to technology tools to revive six millet varieties in Kerala that will help ease millet production processes and create market linkages, Lenovo Foundation Head of Asia Pacific CSR and Philanthropy Pratima Harite told PTI. In the first year of the project, which began in October, 25 farmers took part in the initiative to cultivate six varieties of millets in 25 acres of land, Harite said. The six millet varieties are finger millet, barnyard millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and kodo millet, some of which were still being grown for self consumption. "The farmers were selected by the villag

Millet prices double on increased consumption; bad weather hits production

The Jowar growing region of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana have suffered droughts, whereas the brown top crop areas in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala have received excess rainfall

Int'l food safety body endorses India's proposal on standards for millets

India's proposal for development of global standards for millets has been endorsed by members of a leading international food safety and quality standard-setting body created by the UN, the Union health ministry said on Friday. The Codex Alimentarious Commission (CAC) also praised India's standards on millets during its 46th session held in Rome, Italy, it said. India has framed a comprehensive group standard for 15 types of millets specifying eight quality parameters, which received resounding applause at the international meet, the ministry said. The CAC, an international food safety and quality standard-setting body created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations with 188 member countries, currently has standards for sorghum and pearl millet. India put forward a proposal for the development of global standards for millets, particularly for finger millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, proso millet and little mil

Centre transforming local millet into global brand: Odisha Governor

Odisha Governor Raghubar Das on Friday asserted that the Centre is transforming "local millet into a global brand". Addressing a valedictory function of the International Convention on Millets here, the former Jharkhand chief minister said, "Millets are the traditional grains of our country. India is the forerunner in promoting millets... These crops often grow in arid regions with very little chemical inputs." Millets are also high in micronutrients compared to rice and wheat and have higher protein content, which is why they are often called "climate-smart crops", he said. To make millet cultivation a global movement, India proposed a resolution in the United Nations to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. It was supported by over 70 countries and the UN General Assembly in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, he said. Further, millets were declared as 'Shree Anna' in Parliament while a global conference on millets was organised. He said that

Odisha investing Rs 2,500 crore to support millet farmers: CM Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said his government is investing over Rs 2,500 crore for providing income and livelihood support to millet farmers of the state. The state government recently launched the Odisha Millets Mission in 2017 with a focus on reviving an ecosystem of the cereal. For the government, the promotion of millets is about justice and equity to rain-fed farmers of Odisha, Patnaik said. The authorities have increased the direct benefit incentives for millet farmers and laid out assured procurement of ragi (millet), he said after inaugurating a two-day International Convention on Millets here. Odisha is the "pioneer in designing a people-centric Millet Mission with focus on livelihood and nutrition of tribal communities", he said. My government will put all the efforts to make Odisha become a centre of excellence on millet and contribute to economic growth, wellbeing, and health of the people of Odisha, Patnaik said. Noting that the United Nations

Area under millets except bajra lower than last year this season

Jowar, along with bajra and ragi, constitutes almost 70 per cent of the millets produced in the country

Meet Lahari Bai | India's Millets Ambassador

MAHARISHI initiative decoded: Strengthening millets research collaboration

This initiative aims to bolster research and awareness concerning agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition

India's G20 millets initiative MAHARISHI faces roadblock from China

'China has raised objection to the Sanskrit short form of the millets initiative though they don't have a problem with the proposal per se'

Health Ministry proposes 5 MoUs to create awareness on benefits of millets

Region-specific millet recipes have been developed for school canteens, defence messes and train menus among others, and the Union Health Ministry has proposed signing MoUs with five ministries to create awareness about their nutritional benefits through collaborative approach. With 2023 being celebrated as the International Year of Millets, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has written to ministers of Defence, Railways, Education, Women and Child Development and Youth Affairs and Sports informing them about books with the region-specific recipes developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In his letter, Mandaviya said FSSAI, under the aegis of the Ministry of Health, has been promoting incorporation of Shree Anna (millets) as part of a healthy and diverse diet among different sections of people through its Eat Right India initiative. In his letter to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Mandaviya said healthy children and youth are the foundation of a .

Chhattisgarh government's high-tech millet push to double productivity

The state has now set a target to increase the area under millet cultivation from 96,000 hectares to 160,000 hectares during the current kharif year

In the 'International Year of Millets', here's what ails the 'superfood'

Country' annual production hasn't crossed ambitious benchmark because of issues in procurement, pricing

Consumer preference, govt push make millets the darling of FMCG companies

An increased preference towards healthier food items has been registered since Covid-19. Consumers are now taking more time to read product labels before going for a purchase

Chhattisgarh govt encourages pvt entrepreneurs to set up millet units

At least 20 districts of the state cultivate millets, and the government has fixed the support price Rs 30 per kg for kodo and kutki and Rs 33.77 per kg for ragi

IRCTC planning to add nutrition to its menu with millet dishes in trains

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is planning to introduce nutritious additions in its menu which will include millet-based dishes