Despite the potential to check the triple whammy of nutritional deficiency, environmental degradation, and receding farm incomes, the adoption of Millets has been abysmally low. Analyse.

s can prove to be game changer in:

• a) Nutritional outcomes
• b) Environmental sustenance
• c) Farm incomes

(A) Nutritional

1. Grains (Grasses technically) like Bajra, sorghum: dense in

• calcium
• proteins
• vitamins → can resolve Hidden Hunger.

1. Low in Glucose and less in Elastene.

2. Good for patient care; esp. Non-Communicable: BP, diabetes, etc.

Uttarakhand declined its Anaemic population by suitable use of 'millet laddus'.

(B) Environmental

1. millets are climate hardy crops → Grown in Rajasthan; Gujarat.
2. Doesn't need Extensive Irrigation.
3. Don't need High fertilizer consumption
4. Have lesser carbon footprint than Rice, etc.

(C) Farm Income

1. currently, as millets consumption improves, Price discovery would improve.
2. Diversification of farm produce
3. Less cost of inputs & maintenance

Why millet consumption is sub-optimal :

1. societal perspective: → considered to be food of 'lower class'

2. Skewed Govt. Policies : Example MSP towards Wheat Rice

(3) Lack of Awareness about benefits to general public.

(4) Poor Global demand and Phytosanitary issues.

What can be done further :

(1) Millet-based food processing

diagram Potential in India → Avenues in Domestic + Abroad

(2) Suitable Govt. policy support

• PM-ASHA procurement or atleast difference payment
• Better Public Investment
  • APMCs
  • storage, etc.

(3) Awareness Generation

(4) Fasal-Bima to encourage production.

→ Thus, millets hold extreme potential to solve India's triple whammy and has rightly be termed as 'Shree-Anna' which requires our equivalent efforts.