India will be international hub of millet exports soon: Shobha Karandlaje

UDUPI: India will soon become an international hub of millet exports, said Shobha Karandlaje, Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers’ welfare.


She was speaking after launching the International Year of Millets 2023 campaign at

Krishi Vigyan Kendra

in Brahmavar on Friday. In the next two years, the nation will see a revolution in the production and export of millets. The nation will be the hub of organic and quality millets in the world, the minister said.

“India is a nation largely dependent on rainfed farming. The environment in India is suitable for the cultivation of millets, which have a high concentration of calcium, protein and vitamins. Physicians have been suggesting the consumption of millets to control diabetes and several other health issues. It also supplements growth in the human body. The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, based on the requests of India. Farmers in India should cultivate millets and earn more through exports,” Karandlaje said.

Research papers have indicated that India was the largest producer and consumer of millets. People in the Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilisations were consuming millets, according to studies. Karnataka was cultivating millets on eight lakh hectares earlier. However, the area shrank to 3.5 lakh hectares.

The government will implement various schemes to increase millet production across the nation. Special emphasis will be given to publicise the millet production in India, through embassies, the minister said.

On a demand for an agriculture college in Udupi, Karandlaje said that the proposal will be discussed with the state government soon.

Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences,

Shivamogga

vice-chancellor Manjunath K Nayak delivered the keynote address and said that the International Year of Millets 2023 programmes were launched at 800 centres across the nation.