State/UTs procured 6.07 Lakh Tonnes of millets during Kharif Marketing Season 2021-22 for distribution

The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today informed that as per the 2nd Advance Estimates of Production of foodgrains for 2022-23 of Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the production of total foodgrains is estimated to be 3235.54 Lakh Tonnes out of which the production of Millets is 159.09 Lakh Tonnes (4.92 per cent of total foodgrains production). State Governments have procured 6.07 Lakh Tonnes of millets during Kharif Marketing Season 2021-22 for distribution under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)/Integrated Child Development Services(ICDS)/ Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN/Mid-Day Meal Scheme) etc. The data of production of millets during last five years, is attached below.

Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, the term “foodgrains” is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time. There is no specific provision for Millets under the Act. However, to improve the level of nutrition among the beneficiaries covered under the NFSA, all the States/UTs have been requested to procure millets and distribute for NFSA beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and as per the guidelines issued by Government from time to time.

Recognizing the nutritional value of millets and the fact that consumption of millets can significantly improve key nutrition parameters among children and women in rural and urban areas the Government of India has created a sub-mission under the National Food Security Mission to encourage millet cultivation and its inclusion in Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Now, Millets are already a part of the TPDS. The procurement, storage, and distribution of coarse grains by States/UTs is done under Decentralized Procurement (DCP) system.

Production of Millets during last five years