The INSIMP is a programme to promote intensive millet cultivation and consumption in India. It was launched in 2011-12 under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
- Ministry
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Goals
- Increase the production of millet, Generate the demand for the product based on millets, Show improved production and post-harvesting technologies.
- Popularize millets as “Nutri-cereals, and Motivate the farmers to opt for millet crops.
- How it works
- Provides financial help to states on seed production, processing units and awareness camps
- Advantages of millets
- They are free from gluten content and have lower glycemic indices
- They act as good magnesia and can prevent failure of heart, because of having low glycemic index
- Cells are protected through tannins, phytates, and phenols from getting damaged
UPSC Prelims PYQ
Q. With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)
- This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
- Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
- An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro irrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (c)
Exp:
- ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’ Scheme aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with visible impact to catalyse increased production of millets in the country. Besides increasing production of millets, the Scheme, through processing and value addition techniques, is expected to generate consumer demand for millet-based food products. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- Technology demonstrations in compact blocks would be organized in selected districts for four categories of millets – sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet and small millets. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- There is no such provision to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
- Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
