To enhance production, consumption and popularisation of millet
NITI Aayog has released a report titled Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India. The report was released by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K. Bery in the presence of Member (Health) Dr V.K. Paul, Member (Agriculture), Dr Ramesh Chand and CEO B. V. R. Subrahmanyam.
The report presents a set of good and innovative practices adopted by states governments and organisations in various aspects of millet value- chain especially production, processing and consumption. The report has three themes i.e. (a) State Missions and initiatives to promote millets; (b) Inclusion of millets in Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS); (c) Research and development and use of technology for innovative practices. The report will serve as a guiding repository to revive and mainstream millets in our diets.
This report highlights various missions, programmes and initiatives adopted by different States/UTs to boost production and consumption of millets. For instance, Odisha Millet Mission launched in 2017 with the aim to revive millets on farms and plates has been the flag bearer in this regard as it simultaneously focuses on production, processing, consumption, marketing and inclusion of millets in government
schemes.
Some of the organisations leading in this field are Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) etc.