Government Incentive: ₹10 per Kg Subsidy for Millet Cultivation in Madhya Pradesh

 

The Madhya Pradesh government is encouraging farmers to grow more millets by offering ₹10 per kilogram as an incentive. This initiative aims to boost millet production and highlight the health benefits of this valuable grain.

In January 2023, the state government organized a two-day conference on millet production and marketing. The budget also included plans for a new Shri Anna Research Institute in Dindori. To promote millets, meals made from these grains are now served in state assembly canteens and other key locations. The government is addressing all aspects of millet farming—growing, storing, processing, marketing, and branding—to ensure it is both sustainable and profitable.

Despite the 'Year of Millets' in 2023 and various programs to promote millet farming, millets currently cover only 3.5% of farmland in Madhya Pradesh. The government is focused on increasing this percentage and has various plans to boost cultivation.

Millets are particularly useful in dry areas with low rainfall, where traditional crops like wheat and rice are hard to grow. They need less water, labor, and fertilizers, making them ideal for such regions. Millets are resilient and can grow in small spaces, making them a practical choice for farmers.

As of 2023-24, millets are cultivated on 620,000 hectares, up from 555,000 hectares in 2021-22. Although this is a significant increase, Madhya Pradesh is still ranked fifth in the country for millet production. The new initiatives are aimed at encouraging more farmers to grow millets and improving overall agricultural output.

In 2023, Madhya Pradesh produced 12.68 lakh tons of millets, up from 8.96 lakh tons in 2019-20. Bajra (pearl millet) is the most widely grown millet in the state, making up nearly 60% of the total production. The Mahakaushal region, which includes Mandla, Dindori, and Balaghat, is particularly noted for its high millet yield.

 

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