In view of the increase in cultivation of millets, the Center may soon announce the benchmark price for small millets produced in various states. The Center said it would help states procure and distribute millet through the public distribution system. At present, millets such as jowar, bajra and ragi are procured by nine states with the minimum support price (MSP) announced by the Centre. Minor millet is not being procured at present.
Subodh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Food, said that the procurement of Bajra on MSP is increasing. “The agriculture and food ministries are working together to fix the benchmark price for minor millets. We want the production of small millets to increase. If the benchmark price is ensured, we are hopeful that their production will increase,” Mr Singh said.
He said the Center has taken steps to sell millets along with food grains through fair price shops. “It will be decided as per the demand and procurement by the states,” Mr Singh said, adding that millet had a short shelf life and that is why the Center was requesting states to buy and sell millet directly through the PDS. “It will help small and marginal farmers who are cultivating millets. Considering the nutritional quality of millets, it will be beneficial for the people of the respective states.
financial help
The work of procurement and distribution of bajra of last Kharif season is going on. “Many states have come forward for procurement and distribution of millets. For example, procurement of ragi in Karnataka has been very good. The state has procured 5 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of ragi and it will be distributed along with food grains. The market price in millets like Ragi is less than the MSP. We are providing financial assistance to states for procurement and distribution of millets and coarse cereals. Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu are currently procuring and distributing millet. “We have requested Rajasthan to buy millet and distribute it through PDS,” he said.
In 2021-22, nine states procured 6.5 LMT millets. “In 2022-23, so far Karnataka alone has decided to procure 7 LMT millets. A total of 7.5 lakh metric tonnes has been procured in the country. Our target is to increase the production of millet in future.