CM also directs to prepare an action plan to promote millets-based industries
Raipur, October 1, 2022
Chief Minister Mr.Bhupesh Baghel has directed the Chief Secretary to prepare an action plan to include millets in the state’s ashrams and mid-day meals, considering the effective role of millets (Kodo, Kutki, Ragi) in controlling malnutrition. He also directed to prepare an action plan for promoting millet-based industries after discussing with the concerned departments. He also directed to include malnourished children and anemic women in the action plan of the Chhattisgarh Millet Mission.
He said that Chhattisgarh is the only state in the country that has fixed the minimum support price for Kodo, Kutki, and Ragi and has ensured its procurement through procurement centers. In addition to this, an input subsidy of Rs.9000 per acre is also being provided to millets-producing farmers by including these crops under the purview of Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. The area under cultivation of millets in the state has increased from 69 thousand hectares to 01 lakh 88 thousand hectares. Under the Chhattisgarh Millet Mission, a target has also been set to increase the productivity of millets from 4.5 quintals per acre to 9 quintals per acre i.e. doubling the per acre quantity. Chhattisgarh was awarded and honored as the best-emerging state for the promotion of millets in the ‘Poshak Annaj Award-2022’ organized by the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, and Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare at Hyderabad recently.
In the state, millets are being procured by the women SHGs working under Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation in local procurement centers at a support price. Around 11 thousand 839 collectors are active in the state. The collected millets are then sent to Van Dhan Vikas Kendras where women SHGs have to perform the quality checks and then send them for storage. Kodo is being purchased at Rs 30/kg, Kutki at Rs.30/kg, and Ragi at Rs.33.77/kg. Four new millet-based products have been developed in the state in collaboration with IIMR Hyderabad. These products are Millet Khichdi, Millet Kheer, Millet Laddu, and Ragi Porridge (Ragi malt). To accelerate the processing of millets, preparations are being made to set up Primary Processing Centers in 20 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras. For expanding the scope of millet use, it is being used in Anganwadi centers as nutritious food for infants, and in mid-day meals for students, and pregnant mothers.
The state government has launched Millet Mission in Chhattisgarh to give a push to the forest dwellers’ economy by expanding the possibilities for small cereal crops produced in the state. This mission is operated in 14 districts of the state. To increase productivity, high-quality seeds, technical training, and advice from experts are also being provided to the farmers. For this, an MoU has been signed between the Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad (IIMR), and 14 district collectors of the state. IIMR has taken up the responsibility of providing good quality seeds of Kodo, Kutki, and Ragi and also helping in establishing a seed bank.
