Note: Please note that some inputs have been given by our team in order to make the topic more relevant to UPSC.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS

 

TOPICS COVERED FROM THE SYLLABUS

 

‰       GS-3: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

‰       GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

 

PRELIMS FACTS

 

Ramesh Chand Committee: It was formed by NITI Aayog under the chairmanship of Prof. Ramesh Chand, member, NITI Aayog in 2017 to look into the inclusion of millets under the Public Distribution Program (PDS).

 

‰       The committee also called for rebranding coarse cereals as Nutri-cereals.

 

Context: A sustained campaign by the Indian government has led to the declaration of the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets by the UN General Assembly. The government is taking steps to popularise the use of millets in the diet of the people.

 

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF MILLETS

 

‰       Millets: They are also called as ‘coarse cereals’, literally translated to ‘mota anaj’. These are annual grasses, which are majorly grown in the temperate and subtropical regions without sufficient sources of irrigation. Millets are a part of traditional diet of almost 59 crore people in the continents of Asia and Africa.

 

‰  Types of Millets: Millets are majorly classified into three categories:

 

• • Major Millets: They include Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl Millet) and Ragi/Mandua (Finger Millet).

 

• • Minor Millets:  They include Kangani/Kakun (Foxtail Millet), Cheena (Proso Millet), Kutki (Little Millet), Jhangora/Sawa/Sanwa (Barnyard Millet) and Kodo Millet.

 

• • Pseudo Millets: They include Kuttu (Buck-wheat) and Chaulai (Amaranth).

 

‰       Climate-friendly Crop: Millets are suitable for growing in dryland areas as they do not require much water for irrigation. Therefore, they can also be grown by farmers in drought prone areas. At the same time, they can tolerate diverse conditions and a wide range of moisture and temperature. This makes them ideal for climate smart agriculture.

 

‰       Ideal for Small Farmers: Millets do not require high cost inputs like chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides. Therefore, they are suitable for small and marginal farmers. Similarly, millets are generally resistant to pests. This makes them ideally suited for cultivation by small farmers as they do not lead to catastrophic crop failures.

 

‰       Suitable for Modern Lifestyle: The fast paced, modern lifestyle has led to a decreased variety of food on our plates, as well as, an increase in the consumption of foods derived from animals, such as fat, oil etc. This has led to an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Millets, being rich in nutritional supplements, can help fight such diseases.

 

‰  Increased Intake of Alcohol: In the modern world, drinking alcohol has emerged as a symbol of social status.

Also, work-related stress has led to an increase in the intake of alcohol by the modern generation, which leads to the generation of free radicals in the body. Again, millets can be helpful in neutralising the free radicals as they are rich in antioxidants.

2. MILLETS IN INDIAN HISTORY

 

‰       Millets in Ancient History: Millets were grown even during the Indus Valley civilization period, i.e. almost 5000 years ago. In fact, Barley is considered as the first cereal crop grown by humans. Millets are also mentioned in Kautilya’s Arthashashtra, in which he mentions the major properties of grains, when soaked or boiled.

‰       Millets in Literature: Kangani/Kakun (Foxtail Millet) finds mention in ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’, written by Kalidasa. From the text, it appears that the Foxtail Millet is accorded an auspicious place in the contemporary society. Millets are also mentioned in Sushrut Samhita (in which they have been called as khudhanya varga) and Yajurveda. They also find mention in many religious texts like Srimad Bhagwat.

‰       Millets in Medieval History: Millets are also mentioned in Ain-i-Akbari, written by Abul Fazl. He records the various regions in which millets are grown in India. It is often said that the Mughal emperor Jahangir loved eating ‘laziza’, which is a type of khichri made from Bajra. Laziza has its roots in Gujarat.

‰       South Indian Literature: Ragi is an important cereal crop in Karnataka and forms a part of staple diet in the region.

Its importance is highlighted in texts like ‘Ragi thandheera’ (by Purandara Das) and ‘Ramadhanya Charithe’ by Kanakdasa. Kanakdasa gives an interesting story of conflict between the mighty Rice, the choice of the Rich, and the weaker Ragi, which represents the poorer sections of society.

 

3. SUITABILITY OF MILLETS FOR INDIA

 

‰       Millet Production in India: The total production of millets in India is almost 17.96 million tonnes in 2020-21.

India is the largest producer of millets in the world. It accounts for 20% of the global production and 80% of the production of millets in Asia. The average yield of millets in India is almost 1239 kgs per hectare, which is more than the global yield of 1229 kgs per hectare.

‰       Millets Producing States in India: Millets are grown in 131 countries around the world. In India, they are majorly grown in the northern states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, as well as, the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. In India, majorly grown millets are Bajra (61%), Jowar (27%) and Ragi (10%).

‰       Suitability of Climate: Millets are especially suited to the climate of India. Indian agriculture is still dependent on the vagaries of nature and almost 51.2% of the 140 million ha of cultivated land in India is rain fed. Since millets require lesser inputs like water, they can be grown in such areas where irrigation facilities are not adequately available.

• • Weather Conditions: Similarly, many areas in India are drought prone. In such areas, millets can be a viable alternative as they are considered to be drought resistant, as well as, climate resistant in nature. Therefore, they can reduce the risk of devastating losses for the farmers.

‰       Decrease in Poverty Levels: India is a developing country and more than 60% of the population is dependent on agriculture. The poverty levels in India do not allow the farmers to invest capital in agricultural improvement. Therefore, millets can be used by such farmers as they have a lesser requirement for pesticides and fertilisers.

• • Integrated Farming System: Apart from being used as food grains, the straw of millets can also be used as feed for animals. Therefore, the same land may be used to feed both humans and animals. This can increase the income levels of farmers without dedicating any additional resources.

‰       Food Security: Green revolution was a blessing for India as it led to an increase in the production of food grains in the country and made it a net exporter of food grains. However, with the increasing population and overstretched land resources, there is a need to encourage the production of millets to ensure food security in the country.

‰       Nutrition Levels: At the same time, India has seen a high incidence of malnutrition in the country, with high levels of stunted, wasted and underweight children. Similarly, there is a high prevalence of anaemia in pregnant and lactating women in the country. In such a situation, millets can prove to be useful as they are highly nutritious in nature.

• • Traditional Knowledge: Millets have been included in POSHAN Abhiyan for providing holistic benefits to children. The government launched the upgraded POSHAN 2.0 to try and leveraged the traditional knowledge systems and to incorporate millets in the diet provided to children in the schools.

‰       Soil Improvement: A high use of chemicals like fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides has led to the deterioration of soil quality in India. The nature of soil has become acidic due to monoculture. Furthermore, the erosion of top layer has decreased the fertility levels of the farmland. With their lesser requirement of inputs, millets have the potential to improve the soil quality in such regions.

4. CULTIVATION OF MILLETS IN NORTH-EAST INDIA

 

‰       Millets cultivation: The states of North East India possess mountainous terrain and hilly tracts. The lack of plain lands renders it difficult to grow traditional crops like wheat and rice. Foxtail millet, Proso millet, Finger millet and Pearl millet constitute the major millets grown in the north-east India.

‰       Lack of Irrigation facilities in the North-East: The farmers in north-east India face a shortfall of adequate irrigation resources. Therefore, they practice rainfed agriculture. At the same time, the outbursts of rain are very heavy during the rainy season. These factors make millet cultivation suitable for the region.

• • Monsoon Failure: The states in the region have faced monsoon failures in the recent times. Experts have attributed this to climate change. In the absence of adequate irrigation facilities, it might prove to be devastating for the farmers of the region. Due to their low water requirement, millets can be a viable choice for sustaining cultivation in the region.

‰       Tribal Culture: Similarly, the state is majorly inhabited by the tribals. The major mode of agriculture in tribal areas is Jhum or Shifting cultivation. In the absence of permanent settlements, terrace farming has not been adopted by the people of the area. Therefore, the crops which require intensive inputs are not suitable for the region.

 

5. CHALLENGES IN POPULARIZING THE CONSUMPTION OF MILLETS

 

‰       Socio-economic Status: Millets have been a part of the traditional diet of people in India. However, their importance has decreased with time as they were earlier looked down upon as the grain of the Poor. Their hardy nature and lesser requirement of inputs relegated them to a back seat. Instead, people move towards rice and wheat due to their desire for upward mobility in socio-economic and cultural dimensions.

‰       Social Movements: There have been instances when farmers were systematically discouraged from producing millets. For instance, ‘Kodo Kutki hatao, Soyabean lagao’ movement in the state of Madhya Pradesh discouraged the farmers from growing millets and instead encouraged them to grow crops like oilseeds.

‰       Culture and Tradition: One of the major reasons why people stopped using millets is the lack of usage in their homes and a lack of knowledge about the benefits of millets. For instance, a 2021 survey found that people did not use millets because millets were not eaten in their homes during their childhood. Though some of the users also complained about the lack of taste of millets.

 

6. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE MILLETS

 

‰       2023 as International Year of Millets: Due to India’s sustained efforts, the year 2023 was designated as ‘International Year of Millets’ by the United Nations General Assembly. India’s proposal for the same was supported by more than 70 member nations of UN. The Nodal Ministry for International Year of Millets-2023 is Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

• • Objective: The intention is to raise public awareness about the health benefits of millets and their stability for

cultivation under tough conditions marked by climate change.

‰       Nutri-cereals: To make the people aware of the importance of millets, they were rebranded as ‘Nutri-cereals’ in April 2018, on the recommendation of Ramesh Chand Committee (see inset). The committee also called for popularization of millets among the masses and research into the High Yielding Varieties of Millets.

‰       National Food Security Mission – Nutri Cereals: This scheme was earlier known as Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP) and was a part of RKVY. Since 2014-15, it has been merged as a component of National Food Security Mission. The submission was rebranded as NFSM – Nutri- cereals in 2018-19.

‰       National Year of Millets 2018: The year 2018 was declared as the ‘National Year of Millets’ to increase the demand of millets in the country as well as promote their inclusion in the diet of people. At the same time, the government aims to make India a global hub for Millets through the campaign.

‰       Organic Farming: Experts have pointed out that millets do not require chemical fertilisers. In fact, they are much more suitable to dryland farming with vermicompost manure. Therefore, they are a good choice of crops in furthering India’s initiative of organic farming under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

‰       Inclusion in Government Schemes: As mentioned above, millets have been included in the diet of schoolchildren under POSHAN Abhiyan. At the same time, Ministry of Women and Child Development has directed to include millets under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme under ICDS of Anganwadi at least once a week.

‰       Steps by Government Institutions: The government plans to establish Centres of Excellence on millets across the country for furthering research facilities and providing technological support to the related start-ups. Further, the government has taken various initiatives like Walkathons, Eat Right Melas and weekly programs on social media (like Recipe Ravivar by FSSAI) to generate awareness regarding the benefits of inclusion of millets in the food.

 

7. WAY FORWARD

 

‰       Awareness Generation: There is a need to popularize the usage of millets among the masses by focusing on their health benefits. An increase in the demand for millets would be helpful in increasing the prices of millets and would make millet cultivation more remunerative for the farmers.

‰       Removing the Stigma: Indian government has embarked on an information blitzkrieg to remove the stigma of Poor man’s food attached to millets. For this purpose, the benefits of millets have been showcased at various events including India International Trade Fair, Surajkund Mela (Faridabad) and Dubai Expo.

‰       Support to Start-ups: Many start-ups are exploiting the health benefits of millets by including them in their recipes and food products. There is a need for providing funding, mentoring and handholding such start-ups so that they are able to sustain during their initial period. Moreover, a well-intentioned policy in this direction would go a long way in encouraging such start-ups.

• • Start-up Incubation: Indian Institute of Millet Research has taken an initiative to incubate almost 250 start-ups engaged in the production of food products derived from millets under its RKVY-RAFTAAR initiative.

‰       Increase in Millets’ Production: At the same time, the farmers need to be encouraged to grow Millets and increase their production. There is a need to leverage the success of declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets. This is an opportune moment to establish India as a global leader in millets production.

‰       Food Processing Facilities: Further, there is a need to invest more capital in the creation of food processing facilities across the country. Such facilities have the potential to improve the quality and shelf life of the products derived from millets. This would, in turn, lead to value enhancement and increase the prices of such products.

‰       Logistics and Transportation: Farmers have complained about the cost of processing of millets like Foxtail millet and Little millet, which need to be de-hulled before consumption. These costs discourage the farmers from cultivating such crops. Therefore, it would be appropriate that the government sets up facilities for processing and transportation of millets to the rest of the country.

‰       Check on Prices: As mentioned above, there is a need for decreasing the logistics and transportation costs of millets in the country. This would be helpful in increasing the remuneration of farmers. At the same time, it would also lead to smoother supply chains and ensure adequate availability of millets across the country, thereby, keeping a check on any erratic price fluctuations.

‰       Research on Cropping Patterns: Experts have suggested that there is a scope for further inclusion of millets in agriculture. For instance, the development of short duration millets crops may lead to squeezing such crops in the crop cycle. This would lead to more efficient utilisation of land resources and increase the farmers’ income.

‰       Encouraging Exports: As mentioned above, millets have been increasingly adopted in American and European markets due to their gluten-free nature. This opens up the opportunity for increasing the exports of millets to such markets. However, there is a need to follow the stringent quality requirements and labelling procedures to protect the reputation of Indian products across the globe.

‰       Other Steps: There is a need for further steps for popularising millets including bio fortification of millets to improve their nutritional content. Similarly, the government may reach the masses through digital publications, as well as, word of mouth publicity to the mothers through the Anganwadi centres.

8. CONCLUSION

 

‰       Recent research has shown the various benefits of millets as climate resilient crops, which require very few inputs and have immense health benefits. The International Year of Millets (2023) needs to be seen as an opportunity to project India as one of the front-runners in the production and export of millets.

 

Practice Question

‰       Discuss the significance of millets with reference to the prevalence of malnutrition, poverty and a huge dependency

on agriculture in India. How can millet crops be helpful in doubling farmers’ income?

 

UPSC PYQs

‰       How the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption. (GS3 - 2018)

‰       Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers? (GS3 - 2018)

 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MILLETS

 

TOPICS COVERED FROM THE SYLLABUS

 

‰       GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

‰       GS-3: Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

 

PRELIMS FACTS

 

Millets and SDGs: The cultivation, production and consumption of millets have the potential to meet many of the

targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

‰       SDG 2 (End Hunger): Millets can prove to be a better choice for ending hunger as they consume lesser resources like water, pesticides etc, are not cost-intensive and are affordable for the poor. Moreover, in a country like India, where agriculture is dependent on the vagaries of nature, millets are much more suitable than other food crops, given their climate resistant nature.

‰       SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Similarly, millets are nutritious food crop and can promote good health and well-being among the world population. They are a good source of various minerals, proteins, dietary fibres and antioxidants. They are healthy for the body as they can regulate bowel movements and can maintain blood sugar and lipids.

‰       SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): As mentioned above, millets are a drought resistant and climate resistant crop. Therefore, they can be grown on the land where irrigation facilities are not adequately available. Similarly, they are also remunerative for the farmers because of lesser requirement for inputs like pesticides and fertilisers.

‰       SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production): Millets do not put pressure on water resources for irrigation. Therefore, they are considered as a sustainable crop. Similarly, millets consume lesser pesticides and fertilisers, and in turn, do not lead to the deterioration of soil quality.

• • Diversity: Millets are also important for ensuring the diversity of food crops and enduring supply chain shocks to the food market. For instance, Ukraine-Russia war had the potential to endanger food security across the globe due to the region being a major supplier of wheat.

‰       SDG 13 (Climate Action): Millets have lower carbon emissions than other crops like paddy fields. Therefore, they are suitable for climate. Similarly, they are more suited to the adaptation and mitigation strategies due to their climate resistant and drought resistant nature. Further, millets can also be useful to combat desertification as they do not lead to soil infertility.

Context: Millets have the potential to provide holistic nutrition to the body due to the presence of various nutritional supplements in the millets-based food products.

 

1. NUTRITIONAL ELEMENTS IN MILLETS

 

‰       Vitamins: Millets are a good source of various vitamins, including Niacin (Vitamin B3). Niacin is important for maintaining the nervous system of the body. It also improves the digestive system and keeps the skin healthy. Niacin also improves energy production in the body and can be helpful in food intolerance.

 

• • Folic Acid: Folic Acid is referred to as Vitamin B9. Folic acid is important for the formation of new cells in the body. It is especially important during pregnancy as it helps in the formation of neural tube. Millets are a rich source of folic acid.

 

‰       Minerals: Millets are also rich in minerals like Magnesium and Zinc. Magnesium is important for the various biochemical reactions in the body. It is also critical for normal nerve and muscle function. Magnesium also improves the strength of bones, keeps the heart beat steady and maintains the immune system of the body.

• • Zinc: Zinc is also an important mineral for body despite the fact that it is a trace mineral and is required in very small quantities. Nevertheless, Zinc is critical for the functioning of various enzymes in the body. It is also important for the growth of new cells and healing of damaged tissue.

‰       Fibers: Fibers are important for maintaining the bowel movements of the body. They also improve the digestive system and decrease the cholesterol levels. They are helpful in maintaining the ideal weight and fighting obesity. Fibres also control the blood sugar levels and improve the general well-being of the body.

‰       Anti-Oxidants: Millets provide the required antioxidants to the body. The main function of antioxidants is to neutralise the free radicals produced in the body. Free radicals are produced during the diversion of food, as well as, exposure to tobacco and smoke. Free radicals may play a role in heart diseases and cancer.

‰       Gluten Free: Millets are naturally gluten-free. Media reports have pointed to an increase in the incidents of gluten intolerance, especially in the European and American markets. Therefore, millets are increasingly becoming the cereals of choice in such markets. Similarly, millets are a viable alternative for people suffering from Celiac disease (CD).

‰       Healing Nature of Millets: As mentioned above, millets have the potential to decrease cholesterol levels in the body. Also, experts have claimed that millets can be used to increase good cholesterol levels (HDL-C) in the body, which can further decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in the future. Millets are also helpful in reducing hyperlipidaemia and hypertension in the body.

‰       Presence of Nutritional Supplements: Research has shown that millets have phytochemicals such as flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids and anti-nutrients, which are essential for good health and general well- being of the body. These nutritional supplements are also helpful in fighting chronic illnesses in the body.

 

2. USE OF MILLETS IN FIGHTING DISEASES

 

‰       Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus: Foods rich in carbohydrates are harmful in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) as faster breakdown of carbohydrates might lead to the release of glucose in the body. Millets have leucine as a constituent, which has slow digesting carbohydrates. It is beneficial in NIDDM as it provides the necessary energy to the body without abruptly increasing the glucose levels.

• • Heart Diseases: Further, NIDDM leads to an enhanced risk of heart disorders. In such a condition, millets can be useful to lower the level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in the body. Millets also reduce the blood triglyceride levels, further decreasing the risk of heart disorders.

‰       Cancer: Recent research has shown that a protein present in foxtail millet has the potential to suppress the growth of colon cancer cells. Further, millets have phenolic components like flavonoids and tannins, which reduce the risk of cancer in animals. Also, it has been found that millets induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in colon cancer cells.