NITI Aayog Pulses Report: Lessons for Millet Self-Reliance
Why in the news
NITI Aayog released a report on accelerating pulses towards Atmanirbharta; its ideas on yield, sustainability and self-reliance also suit millets.
Key facts
- India: world’s largest producer. Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, UP and MP give over 80% of output.
- Consumption collapsed as rice and wheat took over PDS and diets.
- Budget 2023-24 renamed millets Shree Anna.
- Average yield about 1.2 t/ha, below rice and wheat.
Why millets matter
- Nutrition: iron, calcium, fibre, protein; fights anaemia.
- Climate resilience: 70% less water, suits drought-prone areas.
- Low-input crop; used in Mid-Day Meal, ICDS, PDS; marketed as a superfood.
Initiatives
| Initiative | Role |
|---|---|
| NFSM-Millets | Seeds, area, productivity |
| Shree Anna Mission (2023) | Six-year R&D, branding, processing |
| Ksheera Bhagya, Karnataka | Millets in school meals |
| UNGA resolution led by India | International Year of Millets 2023 |
| APEDA | GI tagging, exports to Middle East, USA, EU |
Challenges
- Preference for rice and wheat; NFSA subsidies skew choices.
- Low R&D, weak FPO reach, fragmented value chains, no assured procurement.
- Processing and storage gaps.
Way forward
- Horizontal expansion: rice fallows and degraded land, especially Eastern India.
- Vertical expansion: bio-fortified, high-yield, climate-resilient varieties.
- District clusters, processing hubs, FPO-led aggregation, water-efficient organic farming.
Exam angle
- Shree Anna means millets.
- International Year of Millets: 2023.