Cultivation of Millets

The total area coverage under coarse cereals (millets) in the country has declined from 290.25 lakh hectares during 2004-05 to 270.68 lakh hectares during 2010-11 (2nd Advance Estimates). The decline in the area under coarse cereals has been on account of shift of area to more profitable crops such as wheat, rice, cotton etc.

To increase production of coarse cereals in the country, the Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Integrated Cereals Development Programme in Coarse Cereals Based Cropping Systems Areas (ICDP-Coarse Cereals)” subsumed under Macro Management Mode of Agriculture. Under this scheme, assistance is provided to farmers for demonstration of improved package of practices, support for quality seeds of high yielding varieties and hybrids, resource conservation technologies, integrated nutrient and pest management etc. The scheme also provides flexibility to the States to implement new/innovative activities as per their local needs. Besides, frontline demonstrations are also organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research/State Agriculture Universities on the farmers’ fields to popularize the frontier technologies among farmers. Further, Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize” (ISOPOM), inter-alia, aims to increase the production and productivity of maize in the country.

This information was given by Shri Arun Yadav, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

SB: CP: cultivation (1.3.2011)