Millets in the Mix: A Recipe for Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Millets, cultivated and consumed in the Indian subcontinent for over 5,000 years, were honoured during the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) in 2023, following the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly during its 75^th session in March 2021[1]. This recognition underscores the essential role millets play in ensuring food and nutritional security, emphasising their climate resilience benefits, and highlighting their potential to stimulate rural economies.

As per the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[2], global temperatures are projected to reach or surpass a 1.5-degree increase in the coming two decades. Considering the ongoing climate action trends, it is imperative to enact contingency policies to safeguard against the impacts of global warming. Beyond its widespread effects on water availability, global warming will concomitantly impact agriculture and food security. The agricultural sector, currently utilising nearly 89 percent of groundwater, must transition towards practices that guarantee both nutritional and water security while minimising social costs.

India, accommodating 18 percent of the global population but possessing only 4 percent of the world’s water resources, grapples with significant water scarcity. The prolonged overexploitation of groundwater has led to its depletion, underscoring the urgency for immediate adaptation policies to enhance groundwater management. While initiatives such as the Atal Bhujal Yojana are crucial for improving groundwater efficiency, there is a parallel need to prioritise the reduction of sectoral water consumption. Notably, certain water-intensive cereal crops dominate the market, creating a dilemma between food security and water availability. Exploring the role of less water-demanding crops like millet becomes essential in illustrating how Indian practices can offer a blueprint for addressing the global challenge of balancing food and water needs[3].

Rice, wheat, and sugarcane, constituting 90 percent of India’s crop production, are highly dependent on water. India, being the largest exporter of rice, incurs a significant social cost of production, with each kilogram consuming nearly 3,500 litres of water. Furthermore, rice contributes to 10 percent of global methane emissions, with approximately 30 percent originating from South-East Asia. Despite these environmental concerns, the Green Revolution in India, focused on rice and wheat, has marginalised millets from both farmers’ fields and consumers’ diets.

Recognising the imperative to reintroduce millets as a staple cereal becomes crucial amidst rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. Millets such as Sorghum (jowar), Pearl Millet (bajra), and Finger Millet (ragi) have a rainfall requirement that is less than 30 percent of what is needed for cultivating rice[4]. With the projected increase in global temperatures making wheat cultivation impractical, millets emerge as a sustainable alternative capable of thriving in drought and higher temperature conditions. Additionally, millets exhibit 30 to 300 percent higher nutritional content compared to rice, ensuring that climate resilience does not compromise nutritional security.

Contribution of Millets to the Rural Economy

India, contributing 41% of the global millet production, is formulating a strategy to ascend to one of the top three millet exporters by 2025, aiming to improve upon its current fifth position. While India holds almost 40% of the global millet production share, its export performance has been modest, accounting for only 1% of its production in 2021-22 and earning $64.28 million, according to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). In contrast to other major millet producers that prioritise exporting value-added products over whole grain, India’s share in exporting value-added millet products is minimal[5].

Recognising the potential of value addition and processed forms of millets, India seeks to play a pivotal role in enhancing rural economies. Strengthening the millet value chain can catalyse comprehensive development for small and marginal farmers and women, creating increased livelihoods and income opportunities. The government’s commitment to millet production received substantial support with the allocation of Rs 800 crore for millet-based products under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

Case Study: Transformative Government Initiatives Unfolding in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is taking significant steps to promote millets, known as ‘Shri Ann’ (the precious grain), through the ‘Uttar Pradesh Millets Revival Programme’. Supported financially, the Government has devised a comprehensive action plan to boost millet farming and raise awareness about their benefits. An extensive publicity campaign is planned to introduce millets to a wider audience, including a Consumer Awareness Programme across all districts.

Efforts include incorporating millets into school curricula, with ongoing teacher training initiatives. The Agriculture Department is distributing complimentary millet seed mini kits and promoting awareness through media. Plans also involve establishing Millet-based Resource Centres and organising district-level programmes for recipe development and consumer education.

Source: https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteR 1

Challenges faced in Millets Cultivation

The per capita consumption of millets in India, standing at approximately 14 kg per month, remains notably low, despite the numerous socio-economic and environmental advantages linked to their cultivation and consumption. Farmers hesitate to extensively cultivate millets due to low profit margins, with millets fetching lower prices compared to other conventional crops. Additionally, challenges in accessing processing plants and establishing market linkages contribute to this disinclination[6].

Farmers continue to face challenges in selling their millets even when the government has established a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Bajra, Ragi, and Jowar. Integrating millets into the government’s free food grain scheme could create a robust market demand, encouraging farmers to cultivate these crops. Furthermore, in regions where millets are grown, there is a notable preference for specific varieties such as ragi, bajra, and jowar, potentially leading to monocultures in the future.

While millets are gaining popularity as a nutritious crop, particularly in urban areas, there is a need for the Government to focus on revitalising millet consumption in rural India. This emphasis is crucial in addressing malnutrition, which is more severe in rural areas and underscores the potential of millets in promoting better nutrition.

Source: Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Climate Finance in Rural India (CEFRI), GIZ India

Impact Story

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH joined hands to support the millet value chain for minor millets (Kodo/Kutki) in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. Their shared objective is to promote climate resilient livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities. The Reliance Foundation and HDFC Bank also partnered on this initiative which was part of the Indo-German development cooperation project ‘Climate Adaptation and Finance in Rural India (CAFRI)’ that GIZ implements on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Through the transformative impact of incentivising climate resilient livelihoods with minor millets on rural farmers in 84 villages of Mandla district, over 4,700 farmers, including 40% women, now have access to crucial financial resources. This has enabled them to sell more than 2,000 metric tons of minor millets, resulting in revenue earnings exceeding 50 million INR. The combined impact of increased access to finance, substantial sales of minor millets, and enhanced market value has been instrumental in uplifting the lives of farmers and their communities for a prosperous future.

Future of the ‘Precious Grain’

Millets present a viable solution to the ongoing challenge of balancing food security with resource conservation. However, realising the full potential of the millets industry requires the formulation of appropriate policies to facilitate market expansion. Addressing the productivity issues faced by farmers is essential, necessitating effective research for the development of high-yield varieties of small millets to enhance their profitability. Market interventions, such as Minimum Support Price (MSP) and subsidies, must be implemented to encourage increased crop production.

Harnessing the International Year of the Millets is a strategic opportunity to influence global preferences and raise awareness about the nutritional and sustainability advantages of millets. Additionally, highlighting the climate resilience of millets becomes crucial in persuading international governments to promote the global production and consumption of millets, especially in a world experiencing escalating temperatures.

Authors:

Dr Shailendra Dwivedi, Director, Climate Change & Circular Economy, GIZ India

Alok Pandey, Project Head, Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Climate Finance in Rural India (CAFRI), GIZ India

Manas Dwivedi, Advisor, Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Climate Finance in Rural India (CAFRI), GIZ India

Mansi Chaturvedi, Advisor, Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Climate Finance in Rural India (CAFRI), GIZ India

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal opinion of the authors.

[1] Home | International Year of Millets 2023 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (fao.org)

[2] Global Warming of 1.5 ºC — (ipcc.ch)

[3] How is India addressing its water needs? (worldbank.org)

[4] doc20221226147401.pdf (pib.gov.in)

[5] niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-06/Report-on-Promoting-Best-practices-on-Millet-26_4_23.pdf

[6]  apeda.gov.in/milletportal/files/Indian_Superfood_Millet_APEDA_Report.pdf