Millets Cultivation Area Doubles in Madhya Pradesh with Increased Farmer Support and Production Growth

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav extended his best wishes to farmers cultivating millets. He emphasized that 2023 was celebrated as the International Year of Millets following an initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations. Dr. Yadav also expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for his efforts in the agricultural sector, highlighting that, due to farmers' hard work, the area under millet cultivation in the state has doubled in the last three years.

Millet Cultivation Expands to 1.35 Lakh Hectares in 2023-24:

Dr. Yadav stated that unprecedented efforts are being made in Madhya Pradesh to promote the production and use of millets. Due to the initiatives of the state government and the hard work of farmers, the area under millet cultivation has significantly increased. In 2020-21, the area under millet cultivation was 67,000 hectares, which has now grown to 1.35 lakh hectares in 2023-24.

Implementation of Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Promotion Scheme:

Significant move to encourage farmers cultivating millets, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has announced the implementation of the Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Promotion Scheme. As part of this initiative, the Madhya Pradesh Millet Mission has been launched, and the Millet Federation has been registered under the name "Shri Anna Promotion Consortium of Farmer Producer Company Limited."

Millet Cultivation in Various Districts of Madhya Pradesh:

Millet crops such as Kodo-Kutki, Jowar-Bajra, and Ragi are widely cultivated by farmers in Madhya Pradesh, primarily during the Kharif season. Kodo and Kutki are predominantly grown in tribal-dominated districts such as Mandla, Shahdol, Anuppur, Umaria, Dindori, and Chhindwara. Ragi is extensively cultivated in Dindori, Seoni, Mandla, and Jabalpur, while Jowar is grown in districts like Khandwa, Khargone, Barwani, Chhindwara, Betul, Rajgarh, and Guna. Bajra cultivation is mainly concentrated in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.

Promotion of Millets through Seed Distribution and Food Festivals: 2023-24, the Madhya Pradesh Millet Mission organized various initiatives to promote millets, including seed distribution, farmer training, seminars, and workshops. Additionally, food festivals and roadshows were held at key tourist destinations to raise awareness about millets. Millet-based products were showcased at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Global Investors Summit held in Indore. A millet-based exhibition was also set up during the G-20 summit in Bhopal. In collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, millet dishes are now being served in all corporation hotels, with millet branding being carried out at all outlets.