The introduction of the Sree Anna Yojana in the previous Union budget marked a significant step towards promoting millet cultivation across India. This initiative aims to elevate millets from being traditional crops to a mainstream agricultural focus due to their nutritional benefits, resilience, and potential economic impact. Farmers, recognizing these advantages, are advocating for the Sree Anna Yojana to evolve into a transformative movement that not only supports but also prioritizes millet cultivation nationwide.
Currently, millets are primarily cultivated in specific districts of Tamil Nadu, including Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Pudukkottai, and parts of Trichy and Thanjavur. These regions traditionally grow millets as supplementary crops following main crops like samba and thalady. While farmers encounter fewer challenges with millet cultivation compared to other crops, there remains a degree of hesitation due to various factors such as market access, profitability, and agronomic practices.
N. Veerasekaran, State Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, highlighted that the announcement of the Sree Anna Yojana in the Union budget has injected optimism among farmers. This initiative has encouraged them to consider prioritizing millet cultivation in their agricultural practices. However, Veerasekaran noted that for farmers to fully commit to expanding millet cultivation, a more comprehensive and supportive announcement in the State agricultural budget is awaited.
The core demand from farmers, as emphasized by Veerasekaran, is the expansion of millet cultivation beyond the current 10,000 acres per district. This requires the State government to establish a robust support mechanism encompassing subsidies, technical assistance, and infrastructure development tailored to millet farming. He expressed confidence that if prioritized in the upcoming budget, this initiative could significantly boost millet production and make it a prominent income source for farmers in the coming years.
Looking forward, Veerasekaran predicted that millet cultivation would emerge as a top priority over the next decade, driven by increasing consumer awareness of millets' health benefits and the Union government's efforts to promote them both domestically and globally. He stressed the crucial role of the Union government in not only creating awareness among farmers but also implementing effective marketing strategies. This would ensure that millet cultivation becomes financially viable and sustainable, aligning with broader agricultural sustainability goals.
In summary, the push to transform the Sree Anna Yojana into a comprehensive movement reflects farmers' aspirations for millet cultivation to thrive as a vital component of India's agricultural landscape. The success of this initiative hinges on robust governmental support, strategic investments, and effective implementation strategies that empower farmers to embrace millet cultivation wholeheartedly.
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