In order to improve the level of nutrition among the beneficiaries covered under the NFSA, all the States and UTs have been advised to procure millets and distribute to NFSA beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time, Government of India informed parliament recently.
Further, in order to achieve uniform nutritional impact among the targeted population, the Government of India has approved the supply of fortified rice through the Food Corporation of India and State Agencies in the entire TPDS and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) including Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and PM POSHAN covering all the States and Union Territories in a phased manner.
It said the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is now governed as per provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). Under the Act, the term foodgrains is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time.
Responding to a question, it said, there is no proposal under consideration to include more commodities under the NFSA.
Only good quality foodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to food safety standards are issued through the TPDS under the NFSA as well as for other welfare schemes.
The WHO defines ten essential food groups which include cereals and millets, pulses, milk and milk products, roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, fat or oil, fish, egg and other meats and sugar. Out of which 4-5 every day are required for a child to prevent malnutrition.
Lieutenant Governor of J&K recently said that the administration was encouraging the farmers to adopt millet crops.
Recognising the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritized it. In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals”, followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets, aiming at larger promotion and demand generation. The global millets market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period between 2021-2026.
As per experts, in Kashmir, Foxtail Millet, Setaria italica (Kashmiri ‘Shol’) and Proso Millet, Panicum miliaceum (Kashmiri ‘Ping’) were cultivated from ancient times.
The cultivation of these crops has now been abandoned in Kashmir excepting in few remote hilly areas falling in Districts of Bandipora and Kupwara.
The government should work on cultivation of the millets for its suitability under adverse and changing climatic conditions and creating sustainable and innovative market opportunities for the benefit of farmers and consumers.
