Context- India started a ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023 in Indonesia to raise awareness about millet.
About
- The aim of the exhibition is to promote cooperation between ASEAN countries, celebrate cultural and culinary diversity and promote sustainable millet practices for a healthier future.
- It is also a step towards the ASEAN-India Leaders’ Joint Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Emergency Response, adopted at the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2023.
What is millet?
- Millets are a group of small grains commonly known as Nutri grains.
- Varieties: These include Jowar, bajra, ragi/mandua, small millets – kangani/kakun, cheena, kodo, sawa/sanwa/jhangora and kutki – and two pseudo-millets, buckwheat (kuttu) and amaranth (chaulai).
Cultivation of millets (Shree Anna)
- Climate: Millet is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions at an altitude of up to 2100 meters. An average growing temperature of 26-29°C is best for proper development and good yields.
- Soil: Millet adapts to a wide variety of soils, from very poor to very fertile, and tolerates a certain level of alkalinity. The best soils are alluvial, clay and sandy soils with good drainage
Benefits of millet
- Ecological crops: Millets can grow on dry land with minimal input and are resilient to climate change.
- Highly nutritious: Millet contains 7-12% protein, 2-5% fat, 65-75% carbohydrates and 15-20% fiber.
- Health benefits: Millet is gluten and allergy free. The consumption of millet reduces triglycerides and C-reactive protein, which prevents cardiovascular diseases.
- Reduce import dependence: They are an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imported grains.
India is stepping up to promote mill manufacturing
- International Year of the Millet: India spearheaded the UN General Assembly resolution declaring 2023 as the International Year of the Millet.
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: The government has popularized the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund scheme to invite farmers/FPOs/entrepreneurs to avail loan interest subsidies of up to 2 crores for setting up millet primary processing units.
- Higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP): To encourage farmers to grow millets, higher MSP has been announced for Jowar, Bajra and Ragi.
- Production Incentive Scheme: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (TMFPI) has approved a PLI scheme for millet products in the food industry to be implemented from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
Source: News on Air
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