PM inaugurates the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference
Recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference on March 18 at the National Agricultural Science Complex, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi.
- During this, the Prime Minister also released a commemorative postage stamp and a commemorative coin. After this, the Prime Minister launched the Indian Millet (Shree Anna) Start-up Compendium and digitally released the Book of Millet Standards.
- The Prime Minister also declared the Hyderabad-based Indian Millets Research Institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research as a Global Center of Excellence.
Government efforts for millets
- Following India’s proposal and efforts, the United Nations declared 2023 as the ‘International’ Millet Year’ India is the largest producer and second largest exporter of millets in the world.
- In order to promote millets and meet the additional demand of millets, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing a sub-campaign on nutri-cereals from the year 2018-19 under National Food Security Mission in 212 districts of 14 states.
- 16 major varieties of millets are produced and exported.
- These include Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, Minor Millets, Proso Millet, Kodo Millet, Barnyard Millet, Little Millet, Kuttu (Two Pseudo Millets – BuckWheat, Ameranthus and Brown Top Millet).
- The major millets crops grown in India and their percentage share of production are Pearl Millet (Bajra) – 61% share, Jowar (Sorghum) – 27%, and Finger millet (Mandua/Ragi) – 10%. Considering the nutritional value of millets, the government notified millets as nutri-cereals in April, 2018. Millets were included under the Poshan Mission campaign.
Source – PIB