Rajasthan Government to Give Free Seed Kits to Boost Millets Production | 15 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Rajasthan government has decided to distribute free seeds of millets and coarse grains to the state’s farmers in a bid to boost millet production.

Key Points

  • The State government will provide free mini kits of maize seeds to 1.2 million farmers, pearl millet (bajra) seeds to 800,000 farmers, mustard seeds to 700,000 farmers, moong seeds to 400,000 farmers, and sorghum (jowar) and moth seeds to 100,000 farmers.
    • Rajasthan has a share of 26% in total millet production of the country.
    • Pearl millet and sorghum are the main millet crops produced in the state, with Rajasthan accounting for the country’s 41% bajra production.
  • The state government had started the Rajasthan Millet Promotion Mission in 2022-23 and made a provision of Rs 40 crore to set up 100 primary processing units by farmers, entrepreneurs and voluntary organisations.
  • The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has been increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per year per farmer while the minimum support price on wheat has been increased to Rs 2,400 per quintal by giving an additional bonus of Rs 125 per quintal.

Rajasthan Millets Promotion Mission

  • It was announced in 2022 by the Rajasthan government.
  • 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.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

  • The PM-KISAN was launched on February 24 in 2019.
  • It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India.
  • It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  • Under the scheme, the Centre transfers an amount of Rs 6,000 per year, in three equal installments, directly into the bank accounts of the all landholding farmers irrespective of the size of their land holdings.