6 Minor Millets Introduced by at Price of Ragi Ahead of Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24

Ahead of Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24, as many as six new varieties of minor millets were discussed in the State Food Secretaries and Food Corporation of India (FCI) meet conducted on August 21. The Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, chaired the meeting and also discussed the quantities and arrangements for Kharif Crop.

Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24

For the forthcoming year KMS 2023-2024, the quantity decided for the procurement is 521.27 LMT, while it was 518 LMT last year, but only 496 was procured. The state-wise estimation of the Kharif crop for 2023-24 is as follows

Punjab (122 LMT),
Chhattisgarh (61 LMT)
Telangana (50 LMT)
Odisha (44.28 LMT)
Uttar Pradesh (44 LMT)
Haryana (40 LMT),
Madhya Pradesh (34 LMT),
Bihar (30 LMT),
Andhra Pradesh (25 LMT),
West Bengal (24 LMT) and
Tamil Nadu (15 LMT).

A quantity of 33.09 LMT of coarse grains /millets (Shri Anna) has been estimated for procurement by the States during the KMS 2023-24 as against actual procurement of 7.37 LMT during KMS 2022-23 (Kharif & Rabi).

Consumption of Millet in India

This year 6 minor millets have also been introduced to be purchased by the States at MSP of Ragi starting this KMS 2023-24, up to three years.

The government of India is taking steps to increase the distribution of millets incorporating inter-state transportation of millets, added provision of advanced subsidy, administrative charges @2%, and also revised guidelines for facilitating procurement of six minor millets.

States/UTs were advised to focus on procurement of millets, not only on account of the International Year of Millet-2023 but also for diversification of crops and enhanced nutrition in dietary patterns.

The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary/Secretary (Food) or Representatives of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

The meeting was also attended by the Chairman & Managing Director, FCI & Other officers of FCI, the Department of Food & Public Distribution, the Indian Metrological Department and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.