Parliament Question: Incentives and Support to Ragi Farmers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1565 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28TH JULY, 2026 INCENTIVES AND SUPPORT TO RAGI FARMERS 1565. SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी be pleased to state: (a) the details of Central incentives and support measures provided to Ragi (Finger Millet) farmers in the Mysuru and Mandya regions of Karnataka, including MSP operations, input support, crop diversification schemes and procurement levels during the last three years; (b) the total quantity of Ragi procured from these regions under Central schemes and the corresponding financial outlay; (c) whether the Government has established or approved any dedicated millet export hubs, processing clusters, or value-addition centres in Karnataka to promote global trade in millets; (d) if so, the details of such hubs, including locations, implementing agencies and operational status; and (e) the details of the steps taken to strengthen branding, GI-based promotion and international market access for Karnataka’s millets? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): 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 millets (including Ragi). NFSNM-Nutri cereals is being implemented in Karnataka and assistance is provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs, for demonstration on crop production and protection technologies, for production and distribution of certified seeds, for Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management measures, for capacity building of farmers through cropping system- based trainings, etc. Flexibility has been given to States / UTs to identify districts for implementation of different components of the Mission prioritizing districts with low productivity but high potential. The Department of Agriculture, State Government of Karnataka has informed that under NFSNM, 13,518 hectares have been covered under demonstration for Ragi and 7,004 quintals of certified seeds of Ragi have been distributed during 2023-24 to 2025-26 inMandya and Mysuru districts. In addition, 65,567 hectares have been covered under integrated nutrient and pest management for all millets during 2023-24 to 2025-26 in Mandya and Mysuru districts. The ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad through its scientific, technological as well as varietal development provides support for finger millet cultivation including multilocational evaluations conducted under AICRPs. During 2014-25, Central Varietal Release Committee (CVRC) has released 276 Millets varieties including 49 varieties of Finger Millet for cultivation in different agro-ecologies of country. The Department of Agriculture, State Government of Karnataka has also informed that Karnataka is one of the DCP (Decentralised Procurement) State for Minimum Support Price (MSP). Ragi is procured at MSP declared by Government of India every year. Procurement is done through authorized Purchase Centres opened at Taluk and hobli level (based on requirement) in Mysuru and Mandya districts. The Department of Agriculture, State Government of Karnataka has informed that 76450.35 metric tonnes amounting to Rs.356.23 Crores of Ragi was procured in Mysuru and Mandya during 2025-26. The state government is also implementing the Crop Diversification Programme under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) to promote alternative crops for replacing tobacco farming with other agricultural/horticultural crops in the districts of Belgavi, Hassan and Mysuru. (c) & (d): The Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka has informed that millet-processing clusters and value addition centres have been established and organic & millet hubs to facilitate marketing opportunities including exports have been approved. The state government has informed that it has facilitated the establishment of 15 Regional Organic Federations, of which 10 are exclusively engaged in the procurement, processing and marketing of millets. In addition, a Centre of Excellence on Small Millets has been established at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru to address primary and secondary processing, entrepreneurship development, training, product development and market facilitation. Further, the ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad is functioning as the Global Centre of Excellence (Shree Anna), actively facilitating technical backstopping, capacity building, and technological standardization for millet processing and value addition. ICAR has informed that the institute also supports start up incubations and processing enterprise models across millet-growing states, including Karnataka. (e): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Millet-Based Products (PLISMBP) 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. Seven units of Millet based products approved under the scheme are situated in Karnataka. The state government has informed that the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme is being implemented in the state by the Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing & Export Corporation Limited (KAPPEC). Under the scheme, to establish a micro food processing enterprise, beneficiaries are eligible for a 35% credit-linked subsidy, along with an additional 15% subsidy from the State Government, making the total subsidy available up to 50%. 3076 units have been sanctioned for establishment of Millet Processing Units in the state. Further, for promotionof export market for millets, KAPPEC organises Export Training Programmes, B2B and participation in Domestic and International Trade Fairs to facilitate Market Linkages. Under the Karnataka Raitha Samruddhi Yojana, 19 brands have been created for millets. Towards export promotion, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the flag off of the first consignment of value- added products of millets from Karnataka to Australia under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022 and to New Zealand in 2026. Further, APEDA along with various organisations had undertaken more than 10 capacity-building initiatives for FPOs, startups, women entrepreneurs and food processors and to address key interventions for agricultural development and export enhancement in Karnataka including Brainstorming training programmes for new entrepreneurs, start-ups and FPOs on millets in 2026. ******