Guwahati: The Assam Millet Mission is a state government initiative to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets. The mission aims to increase the production and productivity of millets and promote their consumption as a healthier alternative to rice and wheat.
The Assam Millet Mission is part of the larger initiative to promote sustainable agriculture and improve the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers in the state. Millets are drought-resistant and require less water and fertilisers compared to other crops, making them a more sustainable option for farmers. Additionally, millets are rich in nutrients, such as fibre, protein and minerals, making them a healthier food choice.
Business Northeast covered an exclusive interview with the Joint Director of Agriculture, Nodal Officer (NO) of Assam Millet Mission Madhuram Patiri to dive more into the mission. Excerpts:
BNE: What inspired the Assam Millet Mission and what are its goals and objectives?
NO: Actually, the Government of India proposed the United Nations Organisation to celebrate the International Year of Millets. So, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) accepted the Indian government’s request and decided to observe this in 2023 as an international Millet Year. So, under the guidance of the Government of India, Assam is also observing the Assam Millet Mission.
BNE: How is the Assam Millet Mission structured, and what role do you play as the Nodal Officer?
NO: First, a survey was done across Assam to find in which areas millets are grown in Assam. On that basis of this, it was found that there are mainly 15 districts that are growing millets in a major way. Other districts are growing in a minor way. We have taken these 15 districts right from Tinsukia, Golaghat, Jorhat, Karbi Anglong, Morigaon, Nagaon, Kamrup, Goalpara, Dhubri, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri, Sonitpur. These are selected as millet districts. In these millet districts, we have selected our nodal officers in the first place. They are the main force of implementing the Assam Millet Mission in the districts.
BNE: What are the challenges faced by the Assam Millet Mission in promoting millet cultivation and consumption, and how are you addressing them?
NO: The first challenge is that millet is grown mostly in tribal areas. In the very beginning, we have taken three crops — finger millet, proso millet and foxtail millet. Local finger millet is known as Ragi or foxtail millet is known as Kangani or koni dhan, proso millet is known a cheena or cheena dhan.
From very early stages, these three millets are consumed by the tribal population. But this is very new for other people.
The second problem that farmers are facing is thrashing of millet crops. It is a main challenge.
The third problem is milling. Unlike other crops like paddy, it is not easy to mill millet. This is to be addressed by procuring a few machines for husking, and thrashing for the 15 districts. That will help our farmers to address these challenges easily.
Fourthly, the old farmers are not accepting to grow this nutri-cereals. So, we are doing some awareness campaign. We are also supplying millet food items to schools and for pregnant and lactating women.
Some testing programmes are also going on. Different recipes are produced in rural areas and schools, initiatives taken by the Government of Assam. It is decided to provide millet-based food in the mid-day meal in schools once in a week. In Anganwadi centres also, it is decided to provide millet-based food product once a week. That will help in the future also.
BNE: What initiatives have been taken by the Assam Millet Mission to increase the income of millet farmers and promote entrepreneurship in the millet sector?
NO: Assam Millet mission is targeting to grow millet in places no other crops can be grown. That area is to be taken under millet. It is because millet is a crop that requires very little quantity of water (moisture). It can withstand in flood-prone and water-stagnant zone. As many of our places have soils which have shortage of irrigation, those non-irrigated areas can be undertaken with the help of millet.
Millet is getting importance among the educated farmers mainly. They are now taking millets their substitute of cereals. That is why, if we can provide proper quantities and proper value chain added products, it will be of very much help for the entrepreneurs. It is because there is no any millet entrepreneur till now. So, we have a programme under the Assam Millet Mission to create and promote entrepreneurship. Likewise, we are also giving thrust to implement this mission through Farmers Producers Company (FPC). We have a target of creating 30 FPCs on millets. Those FPCs will provide millets and millet value chain products. That FPC will be just like entrepreneurship programmes. We are going to provide any types of machinery like cleaner cum grater, destone with foundation frame, dehusker with foundation frame, gravity separator with foundation frame, millet thrashing machine, etc.
That will help the FPCs to produce quality products. By using quality products, they can produce different types of recipes. So, there will be ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products, which are very popular among educated citizens. That will help in the development of entrepreneurship in famers.
BNE: How is the Assam Millet Mission collaborating with other organisations and government agencies to achieve its objectives?
NO: The main stakeholders are Sarvasiksha Abhiyan and Department of Social Welfare. Our target is to provide nutrition to the children, lactating women and pregnant women. Other than this, the FSSAI (Food Security and Standards Authority of India) is also supporting. Thirdly, the tourism sector is also supporting us. Even a Five Star hotel called the Radisson Blue group is supporting us to promote the millet mission in Assam.
BNE: What are the health benefits of millet consumption, and how is the Assam Millet Mission creating awareness about them among the public?
NO: Millet is called nutri-cereal because of its high content of calcium and antioxidant capacity. A number of vitamins and minerals are available in millets which can help in combating cancer and other diseases. Millet is also very much helpful for diabetes patients.
BNE: What are the future plans of the Assam Millet Mission, and how do you envision the role of millets in the food security of the state?
NO: In the coming budget, the Government of Assam will declare that those who grow millet will be helped by purchasing their entire produce. No other state in India has taken such decision. That is the reason, in the coming years, more farmers are willing to grow millets. It is because market will be available with Minimum Support Prices. That sale will be used for Anganwadi, midday meal, etc. That is why, farmers will encourage it in future. That is food security for them and farmers will also be benefitted.
BNE: How is the Assam Millet Mission leveraging technology and innovation to promote millet cultivation and consumption in the state?
NO: We are taking help of international organisations like International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Secondly, we are in association with Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad. Both are on board in this Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) programme to facilitate Assam Millet Mission. They will be providing new innovations and new technologies of millet which will be beneficial for our farmers. Keeping this in mind, we are continuously communicating and taking help from international organisations.
BNE: How is the Assam Millet Mission promoting sustainable agriculture practices in millet cultivation and ensuring the conservation of traditional millet varieties?
NO: Millet crop is a crop whose entire part is used by animals and human beings. The milking cow can be given the straw of millet that will increase the milk production. So, taking the economic utility of millet, farmers will accept it. Thirdly, it is a crop that can be grown in those areas where no other crops can be grown. It is also a short-duration crop. After that, we can grow other crops as well. With that sustainability is maintained.
BNE: How can individuals and communities support the efforts of the Assam Millet Mission in promoting millet cultivation and consumption, and what role can they play in ensuring food security and nutrition in the state?
NO: We are conducting a few demonstrations through crop production. That demonstration is of two types. One is technological demonstration and other one is mini kit demonstration (one-kilogram kit). These two demonstrations are conducted in farmer’s field free of cost with our own inputs in a FPC mode. Those plots are selected where millet crops can be cultivated. Here, the entire community is involved in the activities. We have already completed one crop, that is, finger millet. Now, we are going to cultivate proso millet and foxtail millet in this season. For this, distribution is already going on in 15 millet districts. In coming years, we will cover more districts under the Assam Millet Mission. This year, APART is funding the Assam Millet Mission. In the remaining five years, Government of Assam and Government of India will finance it.
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