Extension strategies for popularizing millet
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Transcript of Extension strategies for popularizing millet
EXTENSION STRATEGIES FOR POPULARIZING MILLET
Ms.Stella Mariem,
Faculty, Dept of Food Technology, College of Dairy and Food Science Technology,MPUAT,Udaipur
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.
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
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.
Types of millets and their varietal diversity
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%)
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
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.
MILLETS
Bringing more area under irrigated condition
Raising area under cluster approach
Expansion of area by bringing cultivation of fallow land
Extending Precision Farming / Micro Irrigation
Increasing the Hybrid seed usage
Weed Management, scaring of birds
Seed treatment with azospirillum/fungicides.
Mechanized intercultural operations with power weeder
Line sowing through seed drill
Adopting INM and IPM practices
Providing assured market with attractive price
Balanced application of fertilizers Insurance coverage
Application of Micro Nutrient Mixture
Extending interest free credit
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THROUGH PROCESSING, VALUE ADDITION AND MARKETING OF
LOCAL CEREALS AND MILLETS
VALUE ADDING STRATEGIES FOR PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABLEUSE 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)
STANDARDISED AND ORGANOLEPTICALLY ACCEPTED ETHNIC FOODS AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS OF
MINOR MILLETS FOR COTTAGE INDUSTRIES
Micro nutrient enriched biscuits and muffins
- Therapeutic bun and bread -
Micro nutrient enriched sweet
Value added fried snack
Micro nutrient enriched fermented products and malted beverage
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.
THANK YOU