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The NITI Aayog report “Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta” also provides broader lessons for achieving self-reliance in other food crops like millets, which face similar challenges of productivity, market stability, and sustainability.

Current Status of Millets in India

• Global Leadership: India contributes nearly 41% of world millet output (~16 million tonnes annually), making it the largest producer.
• Regional Spread: Five states—Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh—produce over 80% of India’s millets.
• Consumption Decline: Per capita consumption has dropped from 32 kg/year in the 1960s to ~4 kg/year today, largely replaced by rice and wheat due to PDS bias.
• Exports: In 2022–23, India exported 1.8 million tonnes, mainly to UAE, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia, indicating rising global demand.
• Policy Push: The Union Budget 2023–24 renamed millets as “Shree Anna”, earmarking resources for research, processing, and marketing.

Importance of Millets

• Nutritional Security: Rich in iron, calcium, fiber, and proteins, helping fight malnutrition and anemia.
• Climate Resilience: Require 70% less water than rice and withstand drought, making them suitable for rainfed regions.
• Farmer Livelihoods: Low-input crops reduce reliance on irrigation and fertilizers, benefiting smallholders.
• Food Security: Inclusion in Mid-Day Meals, ICDS, and PDS enhances nutrition for vulnerable groups.
• Global Branding: India’s “Shree Anna” campaign has positioned millets as a superfood and strengthened agri-diplomacy.

Initiatives Taken

• NFSM-Millets: Expands area under millets, provides quality seed, and boosts productivity.
• Shree Anna Mission (2023): A six-year plan for millet research, processing, branding, and market integration.
• State Schemes: Karnataka’s Ksheera Bhagya included millets in school meals.
• International Recognition: India led the UNGA resolution declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets.
• Export Promotion: APEDA supports branding, GI tagging, and product exports to West Asia, US, and EU.

Challenges

• Consumer Preference Shift: Rice and wheat dominate diets due to PDS subsidies and cooking convenience.
• Low Productivity: Millet yields (~1.2 t/ha) remain below rice/wheat due to limited R&D and weak seed systems.
• Weak Market Linkages: Fragmented value chains, inadequate FPO presence, and absence of MSP-backed assured procurement.
• Post-Harvest Constraints: Poor processing/storage technologies and limited millet-based food industry.
• Policy Bias: NFSA subsidies for rice/wheat discourage millet adoption in rainfed belts.

Strategic Framework for Atmanirbharta

• Horizontal Expansion: Cultivate millets in rice fallows and degraded lands, especially in Eastern India.
• Vertical Expansion: Develop high-yielding, bio-fortified, climate-resilient varieties with robust seed systems.
• Cluster-Based Model: District-wise crop cluster strategy for focused interventions.
• Value Chain Integration: Establish processing hubs, branding centers, and FPO-led aggregation.
• Climate-Smart Farming: Promote organic and water-efficient millet practices, aligning with SDGs and climate goals.