High-Quality Millet Seeds

At an international symposium on Shree Anna (Millets) and Women Farmers, held on Mandia Divas (Millets Day), Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged scientists to develop high-quality millet seeds to make millets a more profitable crop for farmers.

High-Quality Millet Seeds and GM/GE Crops in India

• Millet, also called Shree Anna or Mandia, is a nutrient-rich, climate-resilient crop and considered a “superfood.”
• Promoted under Mandia Divas (Millets Day) to enhance cultivation and farmer incomes.

Need to Make Millets More Profitable

• Farmers prefer crops that give better financial returns.
• To increase adoption, millets must become more profitable, with:
  • Better seeds
  • Lower cultivation cost
  • Higher productivity

Odisha’s Model Appreciated

• Odisha increased millet productivity from 6 quintals/hectare to 12 quintals/hectare, above the national average.
• Odisha is the only state procuring millets at MSP, giving farmers assured income.
• Millets are also included in mid-day meals in Odisha—suggested to be expanded nationally.

Support for Women Farmers

• Millets strongly linked to tribal culture and women’s participation.
• Women SHGs and seed centres in Odisha help:
  • Conserve traditional seeds
  • Promote local millet-based foods
  • Transfer indigenous knowledge to the next generation

Organic and Sustainable Farming Link

• Excess use of fertilisers and chemicals harms soil and health.
• Millets support:
  • Low-input, climate-friendly farming
  • Transition towards organic farming
• Millets are resilient to droughts and support climate adaptation.

GM (Genetically Modified) and GE (Gene-Edited) Crops

• GM Crops: Organisms with foreign genes inserted to confer desired traits like pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, or improved yield.
• GE Crops: Precision gene editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) modifies the plant’s own genes without introducing foreign DNA.

Current Status in India

• GM Crops:
  • Cotton (Bt cotton) is widely grown.
  • GM mustard approved under regulatory trials.
• GE Crops:
  • Currently under research and regulatory review for commercialization.
  • Potential for traits like drought tolerance, pest resistance, and nutrient enhancement.