Asarkari - Sarkari News, Jobs & Updates

From millets to mistrust, a harvest gone sour

By Priya Sharma

Published: October 26, 2023

kam sabdo me kahein to, an ambitious push for millet cultivation, initially seen as a boon for farmers, has unfortunately led to disappointment and eroded trust due to unfulfilled promises and systemic failures in market support and procurement, leaving many wondering about the future of these 'superfoods' and those who grow them.

The Indian agricultural landscape has recently been abuzz with the resurgence of millets. Championed for their nutritional benefits, climate resilience, and potential to diversify farming, these ancient grains were poised to be a game-changer for cultivators and consumers alike. The government’s active promotion, especially in light of the International Year of Millets, painted a picture of prosperity and sustainable farming. However, for many farmers across various regions, this promising dawn has unfortunately clouded over, leading to a harvest that tastes more of bitterness and mistrust than the anticipated sweetness of success.

The Initial Promise of Millets: A Beacon of Hope

For years, farmers were encouraged to shift towards millet cultivation. The narrative was compelling: millets require less water than traditional staples like rice and wheat, are more resistant to pests and diseases, and offer higher nutritional value. For small and marginal farmers grappling with erratic weather patterns and depleting groundwater, millets seemed like a viable, sustainable alternative. Government announcements regarding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for certain millets and initiatives to boost their consumption further fueled this optimism.

States like Odisha, Karnataka, and Maharashtra saw significant campaigns encouraging farmers to dedicate portions of their land to ragi (finger millet), jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), and other minor millets. Many agricultural communities responded with enthusiasm, investing their limited resources and immense labor, hoping for better returns and a more secure livelihood. The initial harvests were often bountiful, a testament to the hardiness of these crops and the dedication of the farmers. The expectation was that a robust system would be in place to absorb this increased production, ensuring fair prices and market access.

The Procurement Puzzle and Price Woes: When Reality Bites

Unfortunately, the on-ground reality began to diverge sharply from the promises made. A primary point of contention has been the procurement process. While MSPs were announced for some millets, the actual procurement by government agencies has been patchy, insufficient, or altogether absent in many areas. Farmers, having cultivated these crops based on assurances, found themselves with produce but no reliable buyers offering the declared MSP.

This vacuum was quickly filled by private traders and middlemen, who, sensing the farmers' desperation, offered prices significantly below the MSP, and sometimes even below the cost of cultivation. Reports have emerged from various districts where farmers were forced into distress sales. For instance, in parts of central India, farmers who switched from cotton or soybean to millets found themselves at a loss when local mandis either did not procure millets or offered rates that barely covered their input costs. The lack of adequate storage facilities and processing units at the local level further compounded their problems, leaving them with little bargaining power.

The dream of millets fetching premium prices, driven by urban demand for healthy foods, remained elusive for the primary producer. The benefits of the millet revival, it seems, were not percolating down to the grassroots level effectively. For more updates on agricultural policies and farmer welfare schemes, visit https://asarkari.com.

Farmers' Frustration and Growing Skepticism: A Trust Deficit

The consequence of these systemic failures has been a growing sense of frustration and disillusionment among the farming community. "We were told millets are the future, that the government would support us," lamented Radha Bai, a smallholder farmer from a village in Madhya Pradesh, who dedicated two acres to kodo millet. "The yield was good, but there was no one to buy at the promised price. We had to sell for almost half of what we expected. How can we trust such schemes again?"

This sentiment is echoed by many. The initial hope has given way to skepticism, not just about millet cultivation but about broader agricultural policies. Such experiences erode the trust between farmers and government institutions, a trust that is crucial for the successful implementation of any agricultural reform or initiative. Farmers are now wary of diversifying their crops or adopting new practices, fearing a repeat of unfulfilled promises and market failures.

Asarkari's Analysis: Systemic Flaws and Policy Gaps Unveiled

At Asarkari, our research and interactions with agricultural experts suggest that the millet mission, while noble in its intent, suffered from a lack of holistic planning and execution. Promoting production without simultaneously strengthening the entire value chain – from procurement and storage to processing and marketing – is a recipe for agrarian distress. The International Year of Millets created global awareness, but the domestic infrastructure to support farmers transitioning to these crops lagged significantly.

Several key issues need urgent attention. Firstly, the MSP mechanism for millets needs to be more than just an announcement; it requires robust, widespread, and timely procurement infrastructure. Secondly, there's a critical need for investment in decentralized storage and primary processing units at the village or block level. This would not only reduce post-harvest losses but also enable farmers to get better value for their produce, perhaps through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). FPOs can play a vital role in collective bargaining and direct market linkages, bypassing exploitative middlemen.

Furthermore, while millets are climate-resilient, the farmers growing them need economic resilience. This means effective crop insurance, access to credit, and extension services tailored to millet cultivation. There's also a disconnect between the burgeoning urban consumer interest in millets and the farm gate prices. Creating transparent and efficient supply chains that benefit both producers and consumers is paramount. The focus must shift from mere production targets to ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the millet cultivators. A policy that looks good on paper but fails on the ground only deepens the agrarian crisis.

The Path Forward: Rebuilding Trust and Ensuring Fair Returns

The journey from millets to mistrust is a cautionary tale. However, it is not an irreversible one. Millets still hold immense potential for Indian agriculture, nutrition, and environmental sustainability. To realize this potential, a course correction is urgently needed. This involves a multi-pronged approach: strengthening procurement systems with accountability, ensuring transparent MSP implementation, investing in rural infrastructure for value addition, and actively involving farmers in the policy-making process.

Public distribution systems (PDS) could also play a more significant role in popularizing and distributing millets, thereby creating a steady demand. Building consumer awareness about the diversity of Indian millets and their culinary uses can also expand the market. Ultimately, the success of the millet mission, or any agricultural initiative, hinges on whether it genuinely improves the lives of the farmers. It's time to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that the harvest, for those who toil on the land, is indeed sweet and empowering.

Team Asarkari

Keywords