PM Modi says, India’s millet mission to be a blessing for 2.5 crore small farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Mr Modi expressed confidence that the Shree Anna will benefit the country’s 2.5 crore marginal farmers by strengthening the rural economy through its market and associated ecosystem.

Speaking after inaugurating the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference held in New Delhi today, he underlined that the climate-resilient quality of millet can help in fighting problems related to the water crisis.

The Prime Minister has stressed the need for developing a stable mechanism for sharing agricultural practices of millet cultivation among friendly countries. He said, with this mechanism, there is a possibility of developing a supply chain that can promote millet from field to market effectively.
Mr Modi informed that the contribution of Millet to the national food basket is a mere five to six per cent and urged scientists involved in research and all stakeholders to contribute to increasing this percentage.

Terming cultivation of Millet a guaranteed solution to the good health of soil and humans, the Prime Minister said, Millet, can tackle the challenge of climate change, food security and lifestyle-generated diseases. He said, Shree Anna is not only limited to food or agriculture but also an important medium in the country’s prosperity.

Mr Modi said that the government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure that marginal farmers could thrive with millet cultivation. On the occasion, the Prime Minister unveiled a customised postal stamp and currency coin on the International Year of Millets.

AIR Correspondent reports that several agriculture ministers of foreign countries, scientists and other stakeholders are participating in this two-day conference to deliberate on the promotion and awareness of millets among producers, consumers and other stakeholders; millets’ value chain development; health and nutritional aspects of millets and market linkages.