VELLORE,TAMIL NADU: 16/04/2025: standalone: Women harvesting Millet in a agriculture field at Karnambattu,katpadi block,vellore district .inspite,of brave the heat to do hard work.
Photo: Venkatachalapathy C/The Hindu
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VENKATACHALAPATHY C
The Millet bus has missed the rural stop. While the sustained health gain campaign significantly increased the value-added millet consumption in urban and semi-urban areas, it has not caught the imagination of the rural consumers.
Data indicates that there is a clear urban preference in favour of value-added millet products and snacks across all millet types, while rural consumers tend to stick to traditional consumption patterns, particularly using millets as staples or in place of rice or wheat.
“This shift in urban areas toward more processed forms of millets reflects broader dietary trends, where convenience and health benefits play a crucial role in consumption choices,” according to a recent study by scientists at the International Institute of Millets Research (IIMR).
Rural areas continue to maintain traditional practices, emphasising the role of millets as key staples in their diets.
“To sustain the momentum generated by the International Year of Millets 2023, targeted policies and strategic interventions are essential for enhancing millet production and consumption at both national and State levels,” the study said.
The study was conducted to assess the impact of campaigns conducted during the International Year of Millets in the four States of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
Data were collected through personal interviews with 1,000 farmers and 922 urban and rural consumers. The findings indicated significant increases in cultivation area, yield and profitability across all millet types, with notable improvements in market demand and farmer profits.
“Despite these gains, challenges remain, particularly regarding high production costs, labour intensity and limited storage and processing facilities,” the IIMR study said.
In rural areas, per capita consumption increased for Pearl Millet (11.24 per cent), Finger Millet (3.05 per cent – moderate increase), and Sorghum (2.62 per cent – steady growth). However, Small Millet consumption decreased significantly (18.60 per cent) in rural areas before and after the study period last year.
Despite rising costs, the price received, quantity sold, and profit from millet cultivation significantly improved after the IYM for all millet types.
The study called for the establishment of a National Millet Development Programme to promote millet cultivation through clear targets for acreage, productivity and market access. “Financial incentives such as input subsidies and low-interest loans for farmers adopting millet cultivation should be introduced, alongside a higher Minimum Support Price (MSP) and income support schemes to ensure profitability, especially in vulnerable regions,” the study said.
B Dayakar Rao, Chief Executive Officer of Nutrihub, a technology business incubator set up by the IIMR, felt that there was a need to promote the consumption of value-added millet products in rural areas.
“This will help producers to appreciate the benefits of millets. If they are convinced, they will go for an increase in the acreage,” he said.
The study recommended increasing investments in research and development to promote high-yielding, climate-resilient, and disease-resistant millet varieties.
“R&D in millet processing and value addition should be encouraged by developing products like ready-to-eat (RTE), ready-to-cook (RTC) and ready-to-serve (RTS) foods, as well as functional, nutraceutical and plant-based protein products,” it said.
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Published on May 25, 2025