Increasing Msp in past few years has improved the income of farmers - bhagirath choudhary

Jaipur, 27 September :  Farmers are the backbone of our country. There is a need to increase focus on millets (ShriAnna) beyond the International Year of Millets. We should learn from 'ShriAnna' (Millets) which brings strength with least resources. This super grain flourishes even in every situation and scarcity. With arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the year 2014, the MSP of 'Bajra' increased to Rs 2,625 in year 2024. Rajasthan is the largest producer of millets in the entire country. We have to ensure how production can be increased with the best of technology and all the stakeholders being brought together. The Chief Guest, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Bhagirath Choudhary shared while addressing the 2nd edition of the Rajasthan Millet Conclave organised by FICCI.

The Minister stated that millets have numerous nutritional benefits, and therefore should be included in the diet to stay healthy. Apart from this, he also emphasised on adopting organic farming and said that millets do not require any kind of pesticides and fertilizers and have plenty of nutrition.

In the special address delivered by the Advisor of FICCI, Former Secretary to Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare & Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Mr. Siraj Hussain said that there is a wide diversity in the millets, there are some prominent Milets like Bajra and there are plenty of minor millets like 'Kuttu', 'Sanwa' and 'Kutki' , Kangni, Kondon etc, and every Millet crop deserve the recognition for their high nutritional value. He urged for the promotion of such minor millets. He further said that there is a dire need to increase its production, awareness and consumption in urban areas.

In his address, Chairman of FICCI Task Force on Millets & Director of Sales - Crop Protection, South Asia, Corteva Agriscience, Jitendra Joshi  said that as we move beyond the International Year of Millets 2023, and the momentum of Millets as 'SriAnna' is growing leaps and bounds, it is encouraging everyone to move towards a sustainable, climate-smart future for Agriculture and Food value chain. Millets not only provide nutrition security and boost farmers' incomes but also contribute to six of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, benefiting people, planet, and prosperity. Known for their climate resilience, millets thrive in harsh conditions, making them vital in combating climate change. With the government’s strong support and innovative partnerships, millets are poised to be a cornerstone of India’s agricultural transformation for years to come.

In the welcome address, Co-Chairman of the FICCI Rajasthan State Council and Chairman & Managing Director of Akshay Infrasys Industries Private Limited, Akshay Hada said that millets have been an integral part of Rajasthan as they were easy to grow with low investment and water requirements. Through the 'Millet Campaign', FICCI aims to bring millets to a new level and support its growth with farmers.

The vote of thanks was given by Jitendra Joshi.

The winners of the 3rd Edition of FICCI Millet Startup Awards were also felicitated at the conclave:  Khadyam Speciality Foods Pvt Ltd (First), Agrozee Organics Pvt Ltd (Second), SNP Superfoods LLP (Third) and Vijayanjali Nutri Ce-Reals LLP (Third).

Earlier, Green Certificate was also given to the Minister of State, Bhagirath Choudhary by Chairman of FICCI Task Force on Millets & Director of Sales - Crop Protection, South Asia, Corteva Agriscience, Mr. Jitendra Joshi.

Later at the conclave, two plenary sessions were also organised. The first plenary session was held on the topic, 'Millet Farming and Beyond: Insights from Millet Value Chain Members'. Addressing the session, Former Chairperson, NACWC and former ACS, Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan, Neelkamal Darbari emphasised the need for innovation and research in agriculture. She said that though a lot of efforts and innovation is given in the field of agriculture, it deserves more. For the same, government policies and support of FICCI can prove to be a game changer. Talking about the research on millets, she said that promotion of millets through joint efforts is need of the hour. She highlighted the importance of  making people aware about millets, reducing climate impact and promoting sustainability. Later, the second plenary session was held on the topic,  'Empowering Millet Farmers with Research-Driven Solutions'.