A grant of Rs 3 crore 37 lakh for the establishment of 11 Millets & Food Processing Units

• 18 Jul 2023

Why in News?

On July 17, 2023, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria informed the Legislative Assembly that a grant assistance of Rs 3.37 crore has been given for the establishment of 11 millets and food processing units in the state.

Key Points:

• The Agriculture Minister said that no application has been made by the farmers from any district for the establishment of Millet Processing Units under the Rajasthan Millets Promotion Mission. As many as 20 applications have been received from private companies for processing units of millets and other food items. Out of these, a grant-in-aid of Rs 3.37 crore has been given for setting up 11 processing units.
• It is worth mentioning that the Rajasthan Millets Promotion Mission has been announced by the Chief Minister in the budget for the year 2022-23.
• Under the mission, provisions have been made to establish the Millets Centre of Excellence under Jodhpur Agricultural University, with a view to provide free seeds of advanced varieties, distribution of micronutrients and bio-insecticide kits at a subsidized rate, grant on establishment of the first 100 processing units of millets, promotion for the modification of Bajra and other millets, encouragement and latest technical information to small and marginal farmers.
• It is known that Ragi, Kangni, Sawan, Cheena, Kodo, and Kutki crops are included under Millets. Public awareness programs have been proposed regarding their nutritional quality.
• State seed-producing organizations like Rajasthan State Seed Corporation Limited and Rajasthan State Oilseed Producer Cooperative Union Limited, do not have the improved seeds of small grains like Ragi, Kangni, Sawan, Cheena, Kodo, Kutki. Seeds have been procured from the Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad by the state government to develop these seeds in the state itself.