In the budget, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declared 2022-23 to be the 'International Year of Millets,' promising to take steps to promote them. However, there are concerns in Karnataka that farmers would abandon the cultivation of ragi, a millet popular in the state's southern areas. While this millet has grown in popularity in recent years, it is now being harmed by a lack of farmer-friendly procurement policies.
Since the introduction of the humble millet into the Public Distribution System (PDS) in 2014-15, and the subsequent introduction of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for ragi in 2015-16, the area under ragi cultivation has expanded by 14%, and output has increased by 7%. Production has also increased as a result of high-yielding crop types.
In reality, between 2005 and 2014, the area under cultivation has decreased by around 2% each year, from about 9.38 lakh hectares in 2005 to 7.08 lakh hectares in 2014.
Ragi was grown on around 7.81 lakh hectares in Karnataka in 2020-21. Amidst rains damaging the crop, Karnataka produced about 13.6 lakh tonnes of ragi in 2020-21. It is estimated that about half of total production is sold, with the rest being kept by farmers for personal consumption.
However, the ragi purchase this season has been criticised since the overall quantity for ragi procurement has been set at 2.10 lakh tonnes, with a limit of 20 quintals for each farmer holding less than 4 acres. This year's MSP for ragi has been set at Rs3,377 per quintal, an increase of 82 per quintal over previous year's procurement of 4.7 lakh tonnes.
Public Distribution System is Faulty
"Because the government is delaying procurement, farmers are selling their goods for roughly 35% less than the MSP." The amount of purchase should not be limited by the government. Farmers are suffering as a result of the delay, according to KRRS head Badagalpura Nagendra. In reality, the PDS ragi quota of 3 kg has been suspended for two months. "Why can't the government buy the entire amount of ragi that farmers bring in and assure sufficient supply through the PDS?"
While the procurement registration window ended in January, the cabinet subcommittee charged with deciding whether or not to hold another round of procurement has yet to make a decision.
"Farmers should be encouraged to plant millets, but the government's buying practises do not inspire trust in farmers." "The government has not delivered the proper signal to ragi farmers," said Prakash Kammaradi, former Chairman of the Agriculture Price Commission.
Centre Has Not Been Informed
He blamed the lesser purchase amount set by the Centre on Karnataka's inability to articulate the situation on the ground. "The Centre should be informed on crop forecasts and estimates." Because ragi is less expensive, effective ragi supply under PDS will save Karnataka Rs10 per family per month."
