Roadmap for Answer Writing
Introduction
- Contextualize the importance of millets: Mention the benefits of millets, including their nutritional value (high in fiber, minerals, and beneficial for managing diabetes and obesity), climate resilience, and ability to grow in water-scarce conditions.
- Link to the problem: Despite these advantages, millet cultivation remains unsatisfactory in India. Set the stage to discuss the primary factors hindering millet adoption.
Body
1. Low Demand and Consumption
- Problem: The demand for millets in India has drastically decreased over the years.
- Statistics: Per capita consumption of millets fell from 32.9 kg in 1962 to 3.87 kg in 2022.
- Reasons:
- Time-consuming cooking process: Millets require longer cooking times than rice or wheat.
- Lack of value-added products: Few millet-based processed products are available in the market.
- Loss of traditional recipes: As urbanization and modern diets take over, traditional knowledge of millet-based recipes has diminished.
2. Low Productivity of Millets
- Problem: Millets have lower yields compared to staple crops like rice and wheat.
- Statistics: The average millet productivity is only 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare, compared to higher yields from rice or wheat.
- Impact: The low productivity leads to lower profitability, making it less attractive for farmers compared to other crops.
3. Poor Seed Quality
- Problem: The quality of millet seeds available to farmers is often poor, leading to suboptimal yields.
- Details: Seeds are frequently contaminated with weeds or diseases, reducing the potential output and making cultivation difficult.
4. Inadequate Government Procurement
- Problem: The government’s procurement system for millets is underdeveloped.
- Statistics: Government procurement of millet crops like pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet is alarmingly low (1% for pearl millet, 3% for sorghum, and 15% for finger millet), compared to higher procurement rates for rice and wheat.
- Consequences: This limited procurement discourages farmers from growing millets, as they fear market volatility and lack guaranteed returns.
5. Short Shelf Life and Storage Issues
- Problem: Millets have a shorter shelf life compared to other grains.
- Details: They are more prone to pest infestations, leading to higher losses during storage .
- Impact: This makes millets less profitable for farmers and affects supply chains, further reducing their adoption.
6. Lack of a Robust Supply Chain and Infrastructure
- Problem: The supply chain for millets is inefficient, with most millet producers being small-scale farmers.
- Consequences: These farmers lack access to modern technology, credit facilities, and storage infrastructure, which limits their ability to scale up production and meet market demands.
Conclusion
- Summary: Recap the key reasons contributing to the low adoption of millet cultivation: low demand, poor seed quality, inadequate government procurement, low productivity, storage issues, and inefficient supply chains.
- Recommendations: Suggest solutions to address these challenges:
- Enhance government procurement: Strengthen the MSP system for millets and create better incentives.
- Promote value-added millet products: Invest in the development of millet-based processed foods.
- Improve seed quality: Promote research and the availability of high-quality seeds.
- Better storage infrastructure: Provide farmers with affordable and efficient storage solutions.
- Market linkages: Develop a robust supply chain and modern technologies to improve productivity.
Key Facts
- Decline in Consumption: Per capita consumption of millets fell from 32.9 kg (1962) to 3.87 kg (2022).
- Productivity: Average millet productivity is 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare, much lower than rice and wheat.
- Government Procurement: Low procurement rates—1% for pearl millet, 3% for sorghum, and 15% for finger millet.
- Storage and Shelf Life Issues: Millets have a shorter shelf life and are prone to pest infestation.
- Supply Chain Issues: Small-scale farmers lack modern infrastructure, credit, and technology.
By focusing on these factors and addressing them comprehensively, India can unlock the potential of millet cultivation, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment.
Model Answer
Despite their numerous benefits, such as being nutritionally rich and climate-resilient, millets have seen a decline in adoption by Indian farmers. Several factors contribute to this low uptake:
1. Low Demand and Consumption
Millets were once a staple in Indian diets but their consumption has sharply declined. The per capita consumption fell from 32.9 kg in 1962 to just 3.87 kg in 2022. Factors contributing to this include the longer cooking time required for millets compared to rice and wheat, a lack of value-added millet-based products, and diminishing traditional knowledge of millet-based recipes.
These factors have led to reduced consumer interest and demand for millet Productivity and Marginal Land Cultivation Millet productivity averages only 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare, which is significantly lower than that of rice and wheat. This low yield results in reduced profitability for farmers, forcing them to grow millets on marginal lands with even lower productivity potential. Consequently, farmers are often discouraged from choosing millets over more profitable crops .
2. Government Procurement
The government’s procurement of millets remains insufficient, which further exacerbates the issue. For example, the procurement rates for pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet are extremely low, ranging from 1% to 15% of their total production. In contrast, procurement for staple crops like rice and wheat is much higher, ensuring better prices and stability for these crops .
3. Poor Seed Storage Issues
Farmers often face challenges with low-quality seeds, which are either contaminated with weeds or diseases, reducing the chances of a good yield. Additionally, millets have a shorter shelf life and are prone to pest infestation during storage, leading to higher wastage and decreased profitability .
Conclusion
To boost millet cultivation, India needs to focus on improving seed quality, enhancing government procurement, providing better storage solutions, and developing modern processing technologies. These efforts can drive both production and consumption, enabling millets to regain their role in India’s agricultural landscape.