Even because the Centre has launched initiatives to advertise the manufacturing and consumption of millet throughout the nation, knowledge exhibits there was a gentle decline within the manufacturing of millet cereals in Maharashtra between 2016 and 2022. The staple millet crops – jowar and bajra – have been changed by soybean, which guarantees higher returns for farmers.
In 2021, jowar was sown on 2.08 lakh hectare of land. A 12 months later in 2022, the realm underneath jowar cultivation sharply declined to 1.42 lakh hectare. Jowar sowing dropped by 31 per cent inside a 12 months. Whereas, the typical land underneath jowar cultivation was 3.16 lakh hectare between 2016 and 2020.
The sowing of bajra additionally exhibits related traits. In comparison with 5.04 lakh hectare in 2021, it got here all the way down to 4.07 lakh hectare in 2022. The common sowing space was 6.75 lakh hectare between 2016 and 2020.
The realm underneath ragi cultivation has historically been smaller in comparison with jowar and bajra. The realm underneath ragi sowing was 73,369 hectare in 2021, and it shrunk to 68,612 hectare in 2022.
The proportion of space underneath millet cultivation in Maharashtra is just not solely shrinking but additionally stays fairly low. The full space underneath kharif crops in 2021 was 145.42 lakh hectare and it elevated to 146.86 hectare in 2022. The common space coated underneath kharif crops peaked at 152 lakh hectare between 2016 and 2020.
Earlier, jowar and bajra had been grown in Vidarbha and Marathwada in bigger areas. However over time, monetary loss and low returns compelled farmers to shift to soybean cultivation.
With the United Nations Basic Meeting declaring 2023 because the Worldwide Yr of the Millet, the Centre and the state have determined to advertise conventional crops that won’t solely fulfill meals necessities but additionally the dietary safety of the plenty.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has introduced a Rs 200 crore plan to spice up millet cultivation in Maharashtra.
Shinde mentioned, “The world has recognised the significance of millet. Junk food has led to major health concerns. It has to be replaced by our traditional wholesome nutritious food prepared from jowar, bajra, ragi.” The cultivation of millets will assist small and marginal farmers, he assured.
The Centre and the state’s efforts to advertise millet, nevertheless, haven’t enthused farmers. They imagine that together with an consciousness drive, the federal government should make provisions for monetary help and market hyperlinks.
Farmer chief Vijay Jawandia mentioned, “Almost 40 per cent of crops in Vidarbha was millet. But the farmers shifted to other crops like soybean, and cotton as returns for millet farming were low. It was not sustainable. While we celebrate millet year, the government should provide Rs 10,000 per acre subsidy to farmers for millet cultivation. Unless such concrete steps are taken, it will not help farmers to return to millet farming.”
With millet farming pushing farmers into monetary debt, the bulk switched to soybean farming. That is evident as the realm underneath soybean cultivation has elevated from 46.05 lakh hectare (2021) to 49.09 lakh hectare (2022). The regular rise is seen as the typical land underneath soybean cultivation between 2016 to 2020 was 41.43 lakh hectare.
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana president Raju Shetti mentioned, “Just declaring 2023 as millet year is not going to make any difference in the lives of farmers. What has the government done to encourage them to take up millet farming? Financial subsidy to farmers is a must. The government should provide a higher minimum support price for millet. Without higher returns, farmers cannot sustain millet farming. When farmers go to the market to sell crops, prices crash. They have to sell their farm produce at lower prices to traders. Once the purchase is completed, prices shoot up. Such market manipulation needs to be checked firmly.”
An agriculture division official mentioned, “The empowerment of small and marginal farmers through adequate financial support will help achieve the millet mission. We will have to create robust market links to fetch higher prices. The Pradhan Mantri millet schemes coupled with CM millet schemes will be useful to accomplish the target.”
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