The Rajasthan state government has announced millet to the mid-day meal (MDM) program to improve its nutritional value. Hotels and restaurants run by RTDC are also likely to include dishes prepared from millet in their menus to promote the grain’s consumption.
As the largest producer of millet in India and with the United Nations declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millet, the state sees this as an opportunity to increase its promotion and consumption.
During a recent review meeting led by Chief Secretary Usha Sharma, various ways to promote millet in the diet were discussed. Rajasthan is third in jowar production and also cultivates millets like sawan, kangni, kodon, and kutki in its tribal areas in southern districts. The state has a favourable climate for growing jowar and bajra millets as they require less water and are less susceptible to pest outbreaks.
The Rajasthan Millets Mission was announced in the 2022-23 budget, and 8.32 lakh mini kits of millet seeds were distributed for free in the 2022 Kharif season. A Millets Centre of Excellence is being established in Jodhpur for INR 5 crore, and a provision of INR 40 crore has been made for the establishment of 100 primary processing units.
Millets have several nutritional and medicinal properties and protect against serious health conditions like malnutrition, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The grain is rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
To popularize millets in the state, a state-level seminar on the nutritional importance of millets and an agro-processing conclave will be organized soon.
This conclave will bring together millet producers, agricultural businessmen, startups, voluntary organizations, agricultural scientists, and officials to discuss a concrete strategy for promoting millet.
In addition, similar seminars will be organized at the district level, and lectures will also be held at schools and gram sabhas. The aim is to educate the public on the benefits of incorporating millet into their diets.