Page 41 - Mann Ki Baat - English, August 2022

MIRACLE MILLETS
CROPS OF THE
FUTURE
Rich in micronutrients & Not water or external input
vitamins intensive
Balanced amino acid profile Have shorter cultivation cycles
Low glycemic index, gluten-free Sustainable food source for
High in dietary fibre, combating world hunger
antioxidants Can help build resilient
Can help keep diabetes, agri-food systems
obesity, cardiac & liver Contribute to SDGs 1, 2, 12, 13

diseases in check GOOD FOR PLANET

Sustainable source of
GOOD FOR CONSUMER
income for farmers
Photo-insensitive, drought
resistant
Government Resistant to pests & diseases also organizes
Can withstand variations
is taking various in moisture, temperature, sensitization
soil type
measures to create Require less cost-intensive programmes for
cultivation
further domestic and GOOD FOR FARMER millet start-ups to

international demand familiarize them about
and to raise awareness export opportunities. Over
of the nutritional value of this 500 start-ups are working in
superfood to the public. In a major the millet value chain while
boost to production and exports the Indian Institute on Millets
of millets, Finance Minister Research (IIMR) has incubated
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, in 250 startups under RKVY-
her Budget speech in February RAFTAAR. The Finance Minister
2022, announced assistance for recently announced a ‘Millet
post-harvest value addition and Challenge’ for startups, with a
branding of millet products in seed grant of Rs 1 crore to the
the domestic as well as global winners, to encourage design
markets. In order to promote and development of innovative
millets, they have been brought solutions for and across the
under the National Food Security millets’ value chain.
Mission (NFSM) and their A leading exporter of millets
prescribed purchases in MSP are globally, India is also taking
being done. steps to promote the knowledge
To give impetus to the export associated with millets and
of potential products as well its benefits. These include the
as to remove the bottlenecks establishment of the Centre
in the supply chain of nutri- for Excellence, integration of
cereals, the Agricultural and nutri-cereals in the National
Processed Food Products Export Food Security Act, and the
Development Authority (APEDA) establishment of Millet Missions
has created the Nutri Cereals in multiple States. Further, efforts
Export Promotion Forum, which are being made for identification
also included millets’ exports. It of millet clusters, creation of a

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