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MoS for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurates National Millet Conference on “The Future Super Food for India”
Coarse grain production in the country has increased
Coarse grains are also considered a storehouse in times of famine: Shri Prahlad Singh Patel
Need to integrate millet to improve India’s nutritional outcomes: MoS, Ministry of FPI
Millets India’s superfood among the country’s oldest foods: Shri Prahlad Singh Patel
By GDP Delhi
Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries M/o today inaugurated the National Millet Conference themed ‘The Future Super Food for India’ in New Delhi, organized by the industrial organization ASSOCHAM with the support of M/o Agri-Food Industries. The conference was organized to discuss the opportunities and challenges for ensuring food and nutrition security.
In his inaugural address, the Union Minister said that the production of coarse grains in the country increased to 17.96 million tons in 2020-21 from 14.52 million tons in 2015-16 and that the production of bajra (pearl millet) also rose to 10.86. million tons over the same period.
Shri Prahlad Singh Patel said that due to its ability to be easily stored for a long time even under ordinary conditions, coarse grains are also considered as a storehouse in times of famine.
Speaking about the benefits of millet at the National Millet Conference, the Minister of State for M/o FPI said that millet is one of the oldest foods in the country. It is a crop grown from small seeds that can be grown well in dry areas or even on land with deficient and low fertility. It is therefore known as the super food of India.
The Minister shared that due to their short growing season, millets can grow from seed to harvest-ready crops in just about 65 days and this characteristic of millets is of vital importance in densely populated areas of the country. world. If stored properly, millets can keep well for two years or more. He said mainstreaming millet is necessary to improve India’s nutritional outcomes.
Shri Prahlad Singh Patel noted that the Indian government has already revised guidelines to facilitate the movement of surplus millet production to other states. The provision of interstate transportation of surplus millet through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is incorporated to meet anticipated demands from consuming states before the start of supply.
The main millet producing states in India are Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
Shri Minhaj Alam, Co-Secretary, M/o Food Processing Industries, spoke about the awareness of millet around the world as India is now the 5th largest exporter of millet in the world. He informed that the year 2023 will be the international year of millet which will create value and promote sustainable products in food choices. He added that more investment is needed in millet production and processing.
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