Parliament Question: Global Millet Hubs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 349 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17TH MARCH, 2026 GLOBAL MILLET HUBS *349. SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government plans to leverage the agricultural expertise of traditional rice- growing hubs like Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Korba and Baloda Bazar to establish them as Global Millet Hubs; (b) the specific financial allocation for primary and secondary millet processing units at the block level in these districts during the Financial Year 2025-26; (c) whether the Government is aware that despite the global branding of "Shree Anna", lack of localized processing infrastructure forces farmers to sell raw millets at sub-par prices; (d) the number of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from Chhattisgarh integrated into the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for millet-based products as of February 2026; and (e) the details of concrete steps being taken to move beyond "awareness branding" to ensure a guaranteed, end-to-end procurement and value-addition chain directly benefiting the tribal and rural farmers of the State? ANSWER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.349 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TH MARCH, 2026 REGARDING “GLOBAL MILLET HUBS” (a) & (b): The Government has been promoting the production and productivity of Shree Anna (millets) in the state of Chhattisgarh, through its scheme like the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) and through the special interventions under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Detailed Project Report (RKVY - DPR). Under NFSNM states are given assistance to increase the production and productivity of millets (Shree Anna) through various interventions like demonstration, seed production and seed distribution. Flexibility under the scheme is given to the implementing States / UTs to identify districts, subject to inter alia conditions that prioritize districts with low productivity but high potential. The State of Chhattisgarh was approved an Annual Action Plan for Rs. 528.75 lakhs (Central Share + State Share) lakhs under the NFSNM for promotion of Millets for the year 2025-2026. The implementing State Government has informed that the state is promoting millets (Ragi, Kodo, Kutki) under NFSNM-Shree Anna in selected 10 districts namely Rajnandgaon, Kabirdham, Sarguja, Balrampur, Koriya, Kondagaon, Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma and Kanker of Chhattisgarh state and through the scheme, 5 Kisan melas were organized in Kabirdham, Balrampur, Dantewada, Sukma and Kanker districts of the state. In addition, the state has been approved a project for Demonstration of millets under RKVY - DPR with an approved project cost of Rs.2461.56 lakhs (Central Share + State Share). The state of Chhattisgarh has reported that the project is being implemented in the state including in the districts of Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Korba and Baloda Bazar for promotion and expansion of millets there by focussing on promoting millet cultivation in the region. The area covered under the project in the four districts for millet promotion is 1640 ha. The state government under its own scheme -Krishak Unnati Yojna has also provided input subsidy to millet growers for an area of 215.175 ha in the above mentioned four districts. (c) to (e): The Government has been taking various initiatives to promote millet cultivation, processing and consumption across the country along with incentivizing food processing units, and exporters engaged in millet-based products. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for the Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) from 2021-22 to 2026-27 and one component of the scheme focuses on Millet-Based Products, with an outlay of Rs. 800 crores. Thiscomponent was launched keeping in view International Year of Millets (IYoM). The objectives of the PLI Scheme for Millet-Based Products (PLISMBP) are to increase the use of millets in food products and promote their value addition by incentivizing the manufacturing and sale of selected millet-based products in both domestic and export markets. 29 applicants have been approved under PLISMBP component of the scheme for millet-based units at 45 locations throughout the country. The State Government & MoFPI have informed that no FPO have been integrated into the PLI scheme for Millet based products in Chhattisgarh as of February, 2026. Further, under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, Millets and millet-based products have been identified as One District One Product (ODOP) in 21 districts of 11 States and 17 Incubation Centers have been approved in 10 States having Millet processing lines. As on 31.12.2025, 4,612 micro food processing enterprises with subsidy of Rs.91.20 Crores for millet processing units have been approved across the country. The Department of Food and Public Distribution have informed that to increase the procurement and consumption of millets, states have been permitted to procure millets (jowar, bajra, ragi and six minor millets) from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the central pool subject to the prior approval of the Central Government, based on the detailed procurement plan prepared by State Governments in consultation with Food Corporation of India (FCl) for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS). The Government of India has taken following initiatives to increase procurement and distribution. The distribution period/ shelf life of millets has been increased from earlier 3 months to 6-10 months for enhancing higher level of procurement. Further, provision of inter-state transportation of surplus millets through FCI, increase in administrative charges on acquisition stage from 1% to 2% of MSP and inclusion of minor millets in TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System)/ OWS (Other Welfare Schemes) are other actions taken by the government to facilitate procurement. ******