Executive Summary:
This document responds to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 240 regarding the establishment of a National Millet Board and related issues. It states that there is currently no proposal to establish a separate National Millet Board. The document outlines government initiatives to promote millets, provides data on millet production and export for 2024-25, and details long-term strategies to make India a global leader in millets.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Millet Board:
* There is no current proposal to establish a separate National Millet Board.
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare promotes millet farmers through programs like the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM).
Production, Consumption, and Export of Millets:
* The overall millet production in India for 2024-25 is 180.15 lakh tonnes.
* In 2024-25, India exported 1.21 lakh metric tonnes of millets.
* Detailed crop-wise data for area, production, yield, and exports are provided in Annexures I and II.
Strategies for Global Leadership in Millets:
* The Government of India is using a multi-stakeholder engagement approach to create domestic and global demand for millets.
* Strategies focus on enhancing climate-resilient Nutri-cereal production, consumption, and branding.
* The United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, following a proposal by India.
* The Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, has been declared a Global Centre of Excellence.
* The MAHARISHI initiative has been adopted during the G20 Presidency to strengthen research collaboration.
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) is implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) under the NFSNM to increase millet production and productivity, offering assistance to farmers through States/UTs.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government Ministries/Departments:
* Impact: Involved in implementing strategies to promote millet production, consumption, and branding.
* Action Required: Continue to collaborate and support initiatives under their respective mandates.
States/UTs:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing programs at the local level, including providing assistance to farmers.
* Action Required: Implement the Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) effectively and provide support to farmers.
Farmers:
* Impact: Beneficiaries of government programs aimed at increasing millet production and productivity.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs, adopt new technologies, and utilize available assistance.
Startups, Exporters, Retail Businesses, Hotels:
* Impact: Opportunities to engage in the millet value chain, including processing, marketing, and export.
* Action Required: Explore opportunities in millet-related businesses and collaborate with government initiatives.
Indian Embassies:
* Impact: Promote millets internationally and raise awareness about their benefits.
* Action Required: Support the promotion of millets through various channels and platforms.
Key Entities Referenced
National Millet Board: A proposed board to provide institutional support for production, processing, marketing, and export of millets (Shree Anna).
Shree Anna: A term used to refer to millets.
Farmer Producer Organisations FPOs: Organizations of farmers involved in the production of millets.
National Food Security and Nutrition Mission NFSNM: A government program aimed at enhancing the production and productivity of millets in India.
Indian Institute of Millets Research IIMR, Hyderabad: An agricultural research institute in Hyderabad, Telangana, declared as the Global Centre of Excellence for millets.
Millets And otHer Ancient GRains International ReSearcH Initiative MAHARISHI: An initiative adopted during the G20 Presidency to strengthen research collaboration and public awareness of millets globally.
G20: A global forum of the world's major developed and developing economies.
United Nations General Assembly: The main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 240
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05TH AUGUST, 2025
ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL MILLET BOARD
*240. SHRI GANESH SINGH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान कल्याण मं(cid:361)ी be
pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to establish a separate National Millet Board to provide
institutional support for production, processing, marketing and export of millets (Shree
Anna);
(b) if so, the likely composition of the said board, its scope, funding mechanism and framework
for coordination with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups and women self-help
groups;
(c) whether the Government has any official data on the current production, consumption and
export of millets; and
(d) whether the Government has formulated any long term strategy to make India a global
leader in millets, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
NO. 240 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05TH AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING “ESTABLISHMENT OF
NATIONAL MILLET BOARD”.
(a) & (b): The Government of India has taken several initiatives for promotion of millets
(Shree Anna). At present, there is no proposal under consideration to establish a separate
National Millet Board. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare intensively promotes
and supports millet farmers through its programmes like the National Food Security and Nutrition
Mission (NFSNM) for enhancing the production and productivity in the country.
(c): The overall production of millets (Shree Anna) in the country is 180.15 lakh tonnes
during 2024-25 (3rd advanced estimates, DES, DAFW). The details of Area, Production and Yield
of different Millets cropwise during 2024-25 is at Annexure I.
During 2024-25, India has exported 1.21 lakh metric tonnes of millets. The details of cropwise
exports under millets during 2024-25 is at Annexure II.
(d): To make India a global leader in Millets, Government of India has taken a proactive
multi-stakeholder engagement approach creating domestic & global demand of millets, focusing
on strategies to enhance climate resilient Nutri-cereals production, its consumption and branding
etc. This is implemented involving various central government Ministries/Departments,
States/UTs, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian Embassies etc.
Following a proposal by India, backed by more than 70 countries, the United Nations General
Assembly, at its 75th session in March 2021, declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
The year-long celebration successfully raised awareness about the nutritional and health
benefits of Shree Anna consumption and the suitability of millets for cultivation under adverse
and changing climatic conditions thereby benefitting the farmers. Further, the Indian Institute of
Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad has been declared as the Global Centre of Excellence for
sharing best practices, research and technologies at the national and international level. To
strengthen the research collaboration and public awareness of millets globally, a new initiative
viz., “Millets And otHer Ancient GRains International ReSearcH Initiative (MAHARISHI) has
been adopted during the G20 Presidency.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a Sub-
Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission
(NFSNM) to increase the production and productivity of Shree Anna in the country. Under
NFSNM-Nutri Cereals, assistance is being provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs, on
Crop production and protection technologies & cropping system-based demonstrations, for
production and distribution of certified seeds, for Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management
measures, for capacity building of farmers through cropping system-based trainings, for
organizing events/workshops, etc; and seed minikits of newly released varieties/hybrids, are also
distributed through the states by agencies.Annexure I
Details of Area, Production and Yield of Millets during 2024-25
S No Crop Area Production Yield
(Lakh ha.) (Lakh Tonnes) (Kg/ha.)
1 Sorghum 39.84 48.80 1225
2 Bajra 72.10 108.63 1507
3 Ragi 12.29 18.34 1492
4 Small Millets 4.42 4.38 992
Total Millets 128.65 180.15 1400
* Source: 3rd Advance Estimates, DES, DAFWAnnexure II
Details of Exports of Millets from India during 2024-25
S No Crop Quantity (Lakh MT) Value (INR Crores)
1 Sorghum 0.38 155.07
2 Bajra 0.56 192.71
3 Ragi 0.19 65.45
4 Small Millets 0.09 89.12
Total Millets 1.21 502.35
* Source: DGCIS
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