1. Ms.Stella Mariem,
Faculty, Dept of Food Technology,
College of Dairy and Food Science Technology,
MPUAT,Udaipur
EXTENSION STRATEGIES FOR
POPULARIZING MILLET

2. INTRODUCTION
 India has a rich resource base both in terms of
farmers’ varieties and laboratory produced
cultivators of millets in India.
 While, admittedly it may not be much of a panacea
in the Indo-Gangetic plains, millions of poor Indians
in the hostile arid and semi-arid zones of India
would stand to benefit.
 With eight per cent of the global biodiversity, India
has a rich genetic resource base that, if
appropriately managed and used, could be a great
asset.

3.  Millets are grown in arid, semi-arid or rather marginal
conditions of soil fertility and moisture. Nevertheless,
they are considered as rain fed crops and could be of
great help to large localised population as staples or
even reserve crops in marginal areas.
 They are a proven source of
energy and protein for millions
of human population,
additionally providing fodder
for cattle population

4.  Millets have a short growing season, a low
moisture demand and can play a significant role
in a mixed cropped system. Characteristic
ecosystems and climatic condition conducive
for growth of three major groups
 54.89 lakh hectars of land under bajra
cultivation with production of 45.67 lakh tonnes
and yeild of 832kg per hectar.
 55% of the total millet production in India is in
Rajasthan.

6. Types of millets and their varietal diversity

7. PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS
 Low spread of improved varieties or hybrids.
 Poor field establishment.
 Poor weed control
 Lack of adoption of agronomical practices
 Recurrent droughts
 Negligible area under irrigation (only 5-7%)

8. SOLUTIONS
 Grow early maturing and disease resistant
hybrids like RHB 121, RHB 127, HHB
67,GHB 538
 Intercropping of bajra with cluster bean or
cow pea or green gram in 2:1 ratio
 Weed management with hand weeding,
hoeing or atrazine.
 Popularising millet-based food has been
something that CSOs had engaged in but it is
only serious policy support by the
government that can make it a value-added
product for India’s food security

9. Integrated Cereal Development Programme in
Coarse Cereal based Cropping Systems Areas
(ICDP-Coarse Cereal)
 It is expected to include frontline demonstration,
assistance to farmers for improved package of
practices, supply of quality seeds and resource
conservation technologies.
 Currently, 25 millet manufactures and suppliers are
known to be operative.The government is to be
promoted for millet cultivation and provide an
incentive of Rs 5,000 per acre for cultivating
millets.
 Since millets are grown in an area of maximum 20
million acres in India, the incentive percentage will
not exceed Rs 1,000 crore; compare this with
fertiliser subsidy of Rs 1,40,000 crore provided
by government in 2010.

10. MILLETS
Bringing more area under
Raising area under cluster approach
irrigated condition
Expansion of area by bringing Extending Precision Farming / Micro
cultivation of fallow land Irrigation
Increasing the Hybrid seed Weed Management, scaring of
usage birds
Seed treatment with Mechanized intercultural operations
azospirillum/fungicides. with power weeder
Line sowing through seed drill
Providing assured market with
Adopting INM and IPM practices
attractive price
Balanced application of fertilizers Insurance coverage
Application of Micro Nutrient
Extending interest free credit
Mixture

11. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THROUGH PROCESSING,
VALUE ADDITION AND MARKETING OF LOCAL CEREALS
AND MILLETS

12. VALUE ADDING STRATEGIES FOR PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABLE
USE OF INDIGENOUS SMALL MILLETSVALUE ADDING STRATEGIES FOR
PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF INDIGENOUS SMALL MILLETS
FOXTAIL MILLET
(Setaria italica) RAGI
(Eleusine coracana)
LITTLE MILLET
(Panicum sumatrense)

13. STANDARDISED AND ORGANOLEPTICALLY ACCEPTED
ETHNIC FOODS AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS OF MINOR
MILLETS FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRIES
Micro nutrient enriched biscuits
and muffins

14. - Therapeutic bun and bread -
Micro nutrient enriched sweet

15. Value added fried snac
Micro nutrient enriched
fermented products and
malted beverage

18. CONCLUSION
 Thus value addition will fetch the farmer
better returns and will encourage him to
cultivate millet.
 Nutrition education in schools and night
classes will also help the cause.
 Easy asses to governmental schemes such
as Kisan Credit Cards will promote farmer for
millet cultivation.