President director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Budi Waseso on Thursday said there are 300,000 tons of rice imports that have landed in Indonesia, with additional 200,000 tons currently still at sea or docking at ports. 

 

'Imported (rice) that has entered reach 300 (thousand tons) while more than 500 (thousand tons) are now on the ocean at the port, waiting for the unloading,' said Budi in a press conference at the National Logistics Agency, Jakarta, Thursday, February 2.

 

The dock unloading process is currently hurdled by weather, which can spoil the imported commodity. 

 

The commodity came from a number of rice-producing countries such as Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

 

'A small portion is from Pakistan because Pakistan only has that much available time. Some came from Myanmar. Most of it [was imported from] Thailand and Vietnam,' said Budi.

 

According to him, one of the reasons for the delay in the arrival of imported rice was bureaucracy. However, he did not explain further about this bureaucracy.

As a part of its series of sensitization programmes that are aimed at promoting the export of millets and its value added products, the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) today organised a Virtual-Buyer Seller Meet to harness export opportunities in United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

 

The Buyer Seller Meet was organized in association with Indian Mission in UAE under the leadership of Indian Ambassador to UAE Shri Sanjay Sudir.

 

APEDA, which works under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is working in tandem with different stakeholders to accomplish the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote the consumption of millets worldwide.

 

On the occasion, the APEDA also launched e-Catalogue for the UAE which cotains information on various Indian Millets and range of their value-added products available for export, list of active exporters, start-ups, FPOs and importer/retail chain/hyper markets, etc.

 

The e-Catalogue for U.A.E has been circulated to the Indian Embassy and potential importers, exporters, start ups and other stakeholders in the Millet supply chain.

 

During the buyer seller meet, several importers, exporters, Start-ups and other stakeholders in the Millet supply chain participated and interacted with each other to explore the export opportunities of Millet and its value added products.

 

Noting that India has always been a trusted partner of UAE, Indian Ambassador Shri Sanjay Sudir said that there are huge export opportunities of Indian Millets and its value added products to UAE and other markets in the region.

 

Speaking on the occasion, APEDA Chairman M Angamuthu said, 'It’s a Mission and Vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote Millets in the international market. The APEDA team is ready to provide all required help to exporters, millet producers, women FPOs, etc to promote Indian millets across the globe.'

 

Stressing on coordinating with buyers, sellers, producers, to take forward the export of millets and value added products of millets, Angamuthu said, 'It’s a good opportunity to boost our exports as India has very distinctive traditional varieties of millets which are loved by health-conscious people. The export of millets will help in increasing the income of farmers.'

 

APEDA has also planned to organize millet promotional activities in South Africa, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sydney, Germany, United Kingdom and United States of America by facilitating participation of different stakeholders from India in some of the significant food shows, Buyer Seller Meets and Road Shows.

 

As part of the promotion of Indian millets, APEDA has planned to showcase millets and its value added product at various global platforms such as Gulfood 2023, Foodex, Seoul Food & Hotel Show, Saudi Agro Food, Fine Food Show in Sydney (Australia), Belgium’s Food & Beverages Show, Germany’s BioFach and Anuga Food Fair, San Francisco’s Winter Fancy Food Show, etc.

 

India is one of the leading producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent in the global production. As per FAO, world production of millets in the year 2020 was 30.464 million metric tonnes (MMT) and India’s share was 12.49 MMT, which accounts to 41 percent of the total millet production. India recorded 27 percent growth in millet production in 2021-22 as compared to millet production in the previous year was 15.92 MMT.

 

India’s top five millet producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production. Exports of millets from India include mainly whole grain and the export of value-added products of millets from India is negligible.

 

However, it is estimated that the millets market is set to grow from its current market value of more than USD 9 billion to over USD 12 billion by 2025.

 

The government is also mobilizing start-ups for export promotion of value-added products in the Ready to Eat (RTE) and Ready to Serve (RTS) category such as noodles, pasta, breakfast cereals mix, biscuits, cookies, snacks, sweets, etc.

 

As per the government’s millet promotion strategy, major international retail supermarkets like Lulu group, Carrefour, Al Jazira, Al Maya, Walmart, etc. would also be roped in to establish millet corner for branding and promotion of millets.

 

As per the DGCIS data, India registered a growth of 8.02% in the export of millets in the financial year 2021-22 as the export of millets was 159,332.16 metric tonne against 147,501.08 metric tonne during the same period last year.

 

India’s major millet exporting countries are U.A.E, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, U.K and U.S.A. The varieties of millets exported by India include Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat.

 

The major millet importing countries in the world are Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Italy, the U.S.A, United Kingdom, Brazil and Netherlands.

 

There are 16 major varieties of millet, which are produced and exported, including Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi) Minor Millets (Kangani), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/Jhangora), Little Millet (Kutki), Two Pseudo Millets (BuckWheat/Kuttu), Amaranthus (Chaulai) and Brown Top Millet.

 

APEDA has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIMR to boost value-addition and farmers’ income. APEDA launched a variety of millet products for all age groups at affordable prices ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 15 during AAHAR food fair, which is Asia’s biggest B2B international food and hospitality fair.

To provide relief to consumers from rising wheat flour prices, Kendriya Bhandar has started selling the commodity at Rs 29.50 per kg from Thursday, while cooperatives Nafed and NCCF will also sell at the same price from February 6 across the country, according to the Food Ministry. These institutions agreed to brand wheat flour as 'Bharat atta' or 'any other suitable name', with bold mention of a maximum retail price of Rs 29.50 per kg, it said in a statement.

 

This was conveyed on Thursday in a review meeting chaired by Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra on the progress of the sale of 30 lakh tonne of wheat from buffer stock under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) in the domestic market.

 

'Kendriya Bhandar has already started the sale of atta at Rs 29.50 per kg from today itself. However, NCCF and NAFED will supply atta at Rs 29.50 per kg from February 6th onward,' the ministry said.

 

The MRP or maximum retail price of wheat flour sold by these institutions is, however, lower than the current average all-India retail price of Rs 38 per kg.

 

About 3 lakh tonne of wheat is being offered to these institutions without e-auction under the OMSS for converting the grain into atta and selling at Rs 29.50 per kg. Out of which, one lakh tonne each has already been allocated to Kendriya Bhandar and Nafed, respectively, while 50,000 tonne to NCCF.

 

This is part of the total 30 lakh tonne wheat, which the government plans to offload from buffer stock in the domestic market under the OMSS for containing prices.

 

About 25 lakh tonne of wheat is being e-auctioned to bulk users like flour millers at Rs 23.50 per kg, while 2 lakh tonne of state governments for welfare schemes.

 

Representatives of Food Corporation of India (FCI), Kendriya Bhandar, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF) were present at the meeting.

 

Wheat and wheat flour prices in the country have firmed up in the last few months due to tight domestic supplies in the wake of a fall in domestic output.

 

Under the OMSS policy, the government allows FCI to sell foodgrains, especially wheat and rice, at predetermined prices in the open market from time to time to bulk consumers and private traders. The purpose is to boost the supply during the lean season and moderate the general open market prices.

 

The Centre had banned wheat exports in May last year to control rising prices, after a slight fall in domestic production and a sharp decline in the FCI's procurement for the central pool.

 

India's wheat production fell to 106.84 million tonne in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) from 109.59 million tonne in the previous year due to heat waves in a few growing states.

 

The procurement fell sharply to 19 million tonne this year from around 43 million tonne last year.

 

The area under wheat crop in the current rabi (winter-sown) season is slightly higher. The procurement of new wheat crops would commence on March 15.

Rice export prices from India rose to their highest level since April 2021 this week, aided by firm demand and tight supplies, while elevated rates in Thailand kept buyers at bay.

 

Top exporter India's 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $393 to $398 per tonne this week, up from last week range of $387-$395.

 

'Government has made record purchases of unmilled rice from farmers this year. Limited amounts of supplies are available to private players for the exports,' a New-Delhi-based dealer with a global trade house said.

 

India's rice exports in 2022 jumped to a record high despite the government's curbs on overseas sale, as buyers continued to make purchases because of competitive prices, according to government and industry officials.

 

Thailand's 5% broken rice prices eased slightly to $495 per tonnes, from $500 per tonne.

 

Traders attributed the small price drop to a slow down in demand but blamed the lack of supply and the strength of the local currency for keeping prices high which they say deter buyers.

 

A Bangkok-based trader said prices could change once new supplies enter the market at the beginning of March.

 

High cost of freighter also contributed to muted supply and the rise in rice prices, another trader said.

 

In Vietnam, 5% broken rice were offered at $445-$450 per tonne, free on board, unchanged from two weeks ago.

 

'Traders are resuming their rice purchases from farmers to prepare for new contracts, following the holiday,' a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.

 

Vietnam exported 400,000 tonnes of rice in January, down 20.9% from a year earlier, government data released on Sunday showed.

 

Bangladesh's rice production in the marketing year to April has been revised upward to 35.8 million tonnes, the U. S. Department of Agriculture said in its latest update.

India’s foodgrains production touched a record 315.7 million tonnes in 2021-22 despite climate change challenges says the Economic Survey 2022-23 tabled in the Parliament by the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman here today. Further, as per the First Advance Estimates for 2022-23 (Kharif only), total foodgrains production in the country is estimated at 149.9 million tonnes which is higher than the average Kharif foodgrain production of the previous five years (2016-17 to 2020-21). The production of pulses has also been notably higher than the average of 23.8 million tonnes in the last five years points the Survey.

 

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

 

The Survey describes, Horticulture as a 'high growth area' and 'a source of buoyant growth and improved resilience for farmer'. According to third advance estimates (2021-22), a record production of 342.3 million tonnes in an area of 28.0 million hectares was achieved. The Government has identified 55 horticulture clusters, of which 12 have been selected for the Cluster Development Programme (CDP) pilot phase. MIDH is designed to leverage the geographical specialisation of horticulture clusters, promote integrated and market-led development of pre-production, production and post-harvest activities across the entire supply chain.

 

Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

 

The allied sectors of Indian agriculture - livestock, forestry & logging and fishing & aquaculture are gradually becoming sectors of robust growth and a potential source of better farm incomes says the Survey. 

 

The livestock sector grew at a CAGR of 7.9 per cent during 2014-15 to 2020-21 (at constant prices), and its contribution to total agriculture GVA (at constant prices) has increased from 24.3 per cent in 2014-15 to 30.1 per cent in 2020-21. Similarly, the annual average growth rate of the fisheries sector has been about 7 per cent since 2016-17 and has a share of about 6.7 per cent in the total agricultural GVA. The dairy sector which employs more than eight crore farmers directly is critical along with products like eggs and meat. India ranks first in milk production in the world, it ranks third in egg production and eighth in meat production in the world points the Survey.

 

Cognisant of the importance of the allied sectors, the Government has made multiple interventions to enhance the infrastructure, improve productivity and disease control. Under, Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, 116 projects have been approved with total cost of Rs.3,731.4 crore. The scheme was launched with a total allocation of Rs.15,000 crore. While the National Livestock Mission lays emphasis on breed development and entrepreneurship development, the Livestock Health & Disease Control Scheme is being implemented to prevent control and contain animal diseases of economic and zoonotic importance and the National Animal Disease Control Programme is being implemented to control Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis.

 

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with a total outlay of Rs.20,050 crore. PMMSY marks the highest-ever investment in the fisheries sector in India, to be implemented over five years from FY21 to FY25 across the country to drive sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector while ensuring socio-economic development of the fishers, fish farmers and fish workers. Under a dedicated Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), proposals to the tune of Rs.4,923.9 crore have been approved and have benefitted over 9.4 lakh persons, through direct and indirect employment, in fishing and allied activities as on 17th October 2022.

 

Food Security

 

The Survey describes that the food management programme in India comprises procurement of food grains from farmers at remunerative prices, distribution of food grains to consumers, particularly the vulnerable sections of society, at affordable prices and maintenance of food buffer stock for food security and price stability. The Government in a recent decision has decided to provide free foodgrains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 for one year from 1st January 2023. Further, to remove the financial burden of the poor, the government will spend more than Rs.2 lakh crore in this period on food subsidies under NFSA and other welfare schemes says the Survey. During Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2021-22, 581.7 lakh metric tons (LMT) of Rice was procured against an estimated target of 532.7 LMT. In the current year, KMS 2022-23, a total of 355 LMT of rice has been procured up to 31 December 2022.

 

Under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the Government allocated about 1,118 LMT foodgrains to the States/UTs to ease the hardships faced by the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic. To further ease the process of access to food, the Government launched a citizen-centric and technology-driven scheme in 2019 called the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme. The ONORC system enables intra-State and inter-State portability of ration cards. Presently, the national/inter-State portability is enabled in all 36 States/UT, covering 100 per cent of the total NFSA population.

 

International Year of Millets

 

The United Nations General Assembly, in its 75th session during March 2021, declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM). India produces more than 50.9 million tonnes (as per fourth advance estimate) of millet which accounts for 80 per cent of Asia’s and 20 per cent of global production. The global average yield is 1229 kg/ha, whereas India has a higher average yield of 1239 kg/ha. Given the nutritional value of the millets, the Government notified Millets as Nutri-cereals in April 2018. Under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), millets have been introduced to provide nutritional support. A sub-mission on Nutri-cereals is being implemented since 2018-19 in 212 districts of 14 States. India has more than 500 start-ups working in the millet value chains.

 

Food Processing Sector

 

            Over the last five years ending FY21, the food processing industries sector has been growing at an average annual growth rate of around 8.3 per cent. The food processing sector is of enormous significance for India's development because of the strong connections and interactions it promotes between industry and agriculture. The value of agri-food exports, including processed food exports, was about 10.9 per cent of India's total exports during 2021-22 points the Survey.

 

            Recognising the abundant potential of the sector, the Government has been at the forefront with various interventions aimed at the development of food processing in the country. Through the component schemes of Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), for the overall growth and development of the food processing sector, 677 projects have been completed till 31 December 2022. Further, under the Prime Minister's Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme to enhance the competitiveness of individual micro-enterprises in the unorganised segment and promote the formalisation of this sector, as of 31 December 2022, 15,095 loans of Rs.1402.6 crore were sanctioned. The scheme adopts One District, One product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in procuring inputs, using shared services and marketing products. So far, 713 Districts with 137 unique products were approved under the ODOP in 35 States/ UTs. The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), launched in March 2022, has the specific mandate to incentivise investments to create global food champions. Sectors with high growth potential, like marine products, processed fruits & vegetables, and ‘Ready to Eat/ Ready to Cook’ products, are covered for support points the Survey.

 

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

 

The NITI Aayog Strategy for New India identifies the lack of adequate and efficient cold chain infrastructure as a critical supply-side bottleneck that leads to massive post-harvest losses (mostly of perishables) estimated at Rs.92,561 crore annually. To tackle this and unlock the growth potential of the agriculture and allied sector, the Government introduced AIF. It is a financing facility operational from the year 2020-21 to 2032-33 for the creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets, with benefits including 3 per cent interest subvention and credit guarantee support. Since its inception, an amount of Rs.13,681 crore has been sanctioned for agriculture infrastructure in the country, covering more than 18,133 projects. These include 8,076 warehouses, 2,788 primary processing units, 1,860 custom hiring centres, 937 sorting & grading units, 696 cold store projects, 163 assaying units and around 3613 other kinds of post-harvest management projects and community farming assets.

 

National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)

 

            As on 31 December 2022, more than 1.7 crore farmers and 2.3 lakh traders have been registered on e-NAM portal. The scheme was launched to create an online transparent, competitive bidding system to ensure farmers get remunerative prices for their produce Under the e-NAM Scheme, the Government provides free software and assistance of Rs.75 lakh per APMC mandi for related hardware, including quality assaying equipment and the creation of infrastructure like cleaning, grading, sorting, packaging, compost unit, etc.

 

            The Survey observes that the performance of the agriculture sector remains critical to growth and employment in the country. Investment in the sector must be encouraged through an affordable, timely and inclusive approach to credit delivery. A focus on the horticulture sector and the thrust towards allied activities have diversified farmers’ income making them more resilient to weather shocks. All these initiatives have led to sustainable and inclusive development of the sector.

A number of measures such as tweaks in customs duties on certain products announced in the Union Budget for 2023-24 will help boost the country's exports, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. He said that despite global economic uncertainties, India's goods and services exports together are registering nearly 14-15 per cent growth.

 

'The world is seeing recessionary conditions and global growth and global trade is also expected to slow down. Despite that when we combine our merchandise and service exports, we are still at quite a sweet spot...We believe that we will close this year also at a double-digit growth in goods and services combined,' Goyal told PTI.

 

He said that merchandise outbound shipments will be 'slightly less' as the whole world is overstocked, high inventories are there, and inflation has caused consumer demand to fall.

 

'As the global economy recovers from these stresses, particularly of inflation, next year we hope to do better even in merchandise exports and the finance minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) has been generous with her budget allocations for the commerce and industry ministry. So I am quite confident that this will give a boost to our exports,' he added.

 

When asked about the tweak in customs duties on certain products, the minister said the finance minister has 'intelligently' calibrated the duties both upward and downward.

 

In the Budget, customs duty on lab-grown diamonds has been removed from 5 per cent earlier.

 

Goyal said that seeds used in lab-grown diamonds (LGD) are essential raw materials which are processed in India and help us create high-quality LGD which have a large market.

 

'LGD exports have grown multi-fold in the last 3-4 years and the industry tells us that there is a potential for adding nearly another 4x or 5x growth in the next few years,' he added.

 

Replying to a question on the announcement about continuation of concessional import duty on lithium-ion cells, the commerce minister said that the government is promoting domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles and these cells are an essential component.

 

'Since we do not have domestic manufacturing (of these cells) as yet, it is essential to continue this concessional duty so that the cost of 2, 3, 4 wheeler EVS can be kept under control and low which will encourage faster adoption of EVs,' he added.

 

Sitharaman in the budget for 2023-24 proposed a cut in import duty on seeds used to make lab-grown diamonds with a view to boosting domestic manufacturing.

 

The minister also announced that the government from April 1, 2013, will launch a revamped credit guarantee scheme for MSMEs with an outlay of Rs 9,000 crore.

The budget is expected to provide a boost across the agriculture value chain, with announcements ranging from increased credit for the sector, investment in fisheries and focus on high-value horticulture crops to setting up of a dedicated fund for agri startups and building of digital public infrastructure.

 

The finance minister has proposed to increase the agriculture credit for the next fiscal year to Rs.20 lakh crore, with focus on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, from Rs.18 lakh crore for FY23. The budget has also laid emphasis on the fisheries sector, with a new sub-scheme called the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana with a targeted investment of Rs.6,000 crore. The programme seeks to further enable activities of fishermen, fish vendors and micro & small enterprises in the sector, as well as improve value-chain efficiencies and expand the market.

 

The proposed Agriculture Accelerator Fund will aim to encourage agritech startups to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced by farmers, as well as nurture entrepreneurial spirit among rural Indians. Production of high-value horticultural crop will get a fillip as the government has allocated Rs.2,200 crore under the Aatmanirbhar Horticulture Plant programme.

The government proposes to spend Rs.1,150.38 crore on the cooperatives sector in FY24, with Rs.968 crore earmarked for computerisation of some 63,000 primary cooperative agriculture societies (PCAS).

 

The total cost for computerisation of PCAS is estimated at Rs.2,516 crore. The scheme aims to computerise PCAS, leading to an increase in its efficiency, profitability, transparency and accountability.

 

'The budget further makes provision to set up decentralised storage capacity so that farmers can store their produce and realise remunerative prices to sell at an appropriate time,' read a statement issued by the cooperative ministry. 'The government will facilitate setting up of a large number of multipurpose cooperatives societies, primary fishery societies, and dairy cooperative societies in uncovered panchayats and villages in the next five years.'

 

The announcement comes close on the heels of the Cabinet decision to set up three new cooperative societies to boost organic farming, seeds and exports, with the aim to push up farm income.

 

As per the budget announcement, new cooperatives commencing manufacturing by March 31, 2024 will get the benefit of a lower tax rate of 15%, while higher limit of Rs.2 lakh per member has been earmarked for cash deposit and loans in cash by PACS and primary cooperative agricultural and rural development banks. A higher limit of Rs.3 crore for TDS on cash withdrawal has been provided to cooperative societies, the statement said.

 

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her budget speech that a national cooperative database for countrywide mapping of cooperative societies will be created for better implementation of the proposed national policy on cooperatives.

 

'Setting up of cooperatives will ensure that there is no distress sale of farm products and farmers get better price for their produce,' Jayen Mehta, incharge managing director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF).

 

In a relief to sugar cooperative mills, the claims for payments made to sugar farmers prior to assessment year 2016-17 will be considered as 'expenditure'. This is likely to provide a relief of about Rs.10,000 crore to the sugar cooperatives, according to the ministry of cooperation. The department was taken out from the agriculture ministry and created into a separate ministry by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2021.

On the occasion of India's presidency of the G-20, through the theme 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', a one-day workshop on Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and Madhya Pradesh Farm Gate App is being organized on February 02, 2023 at Noronha Administrative Academy, Bhopal and on February 8, 2023 at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur with the aim of encouraging the sense of global unity and increasing the participation of women in the field of agriculture

 

The main objective of this workshop is to increase the participation of women in the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and MP Farm Gate. Women farmers, women agricultural entrepreneurs, women Chartered Accountants, women bank representatives and women officers of various departments will participate in both the workshops.

 

Around 150-175 participants will participate in the workshop to be held in Bhopal. In the workshop, the participants will be made aware about the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme, which is playing an important role in promoting the development of agricultural infrastructure in the country. Also, information about the MP Farm Gate App will also be provided to women farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, traders etc.

 

After the inauguration ceremony, the technical session will open with details about the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme, after which information regarding registration etc. will be given about the Farm Gate app. Questions related to the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme will also be resolved by representatives of the Government of India. In the workshop, the representatives of NABARD and APEDA will provide information about various schemes run by NABARD and APEDA. Various bank officials will also be present to resolve problems and answer queries of the participants related to bank loan. In the final brainstorming session, the participants will be able to discuss DPR preparation, bank related questions, etc. with the officials of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. This workshop will play an important role in increasing the participation of women in the field of agriculture.

 

Corporates like ITC, Tata Consumer will push more millets as the budget envisages India becoming a global hub for Sri Ann or Millets. India is already the largest producer and second largest exporter of millets and the continued focus on domestic production, consumption and export potential will help us to earn foreign exchange. The prices of millets will remain steady following the government's move, industry experts said.

 

ITC has already introduced a number of millet-based products under the Aashirvaad Nature Superfoods brand including ragi flour, gluten free atta, multi-millet mix. Aashirvaad Soul Creations, as part of ITC’s Food Tech Initiative offers millet-based khichdi that can be ordered at home.

 

With India observing 2023 as the 'Year of Millets', the nation is at the forefront to promote millets through the International Year of Millets initiative.

 

The Economic Survey 2023 highlighted that India produces over 50.9 million tonnes (as per fourth advance estimate) of millet, which accounts for 80 per cent of Asia’s and 20 per cent of global production. On average, India's average yield of millet is is 1239 kg/ha, compared to the global average yield of 1229 kg/ha.

 

'The governments strong focus on millets, termed as Sri Anna, will further help drive harvest of and manufacturing of millet based healthy food products, with financial assistance for scaling up Mmillets in the emerging markets. This will also help startups in Incentivizing, training capacity building to farmers to grow millets in a proper format and will financially aid a fair price for the farmers who are growing millets so that they get a good encouragement to continue growing those crops. Additionally, the strong focus on empowering tribal farmers, and tools for green natural farming processes will further help empower and replenish the soil, thereby further enhancing agriculture across the country,'said Sharmila Oswal, Founder and MD of Gudmom.