‘Exempting millets from GST can lift affordability, boosting consumption’

• Recently, Bharat Biotech Chairman raised the issue of exempting millet products from GST to boost consumption.
• Millets are set to play a crucial role in India’s nutritional and food security.
• Therefore, stakeholders in nutri-cereals are looking at sustaining efforts to promote the cereal in a big way.

Millet

• It is a collective term referring to a number of small-seeded annual grasses grown as cereal and fodder crops.
• These are cultivated as grain crops, primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions.
• They are raised mainly as rain-fed Kharif crops (sowed with the onset of the monsoons) in India.
• The earliest evidence for these grains has been found in Indus civilization and was one of the first plants domesticated for food.
• Some of the common millets available in India are
  • Ragi (Finger millet)
  • Jowar (Sorghum)
  • Sama (Little millet)
  • Bajra (Pearl millet)
  • Variga (Proso millet)

Global Distribution

• India, Nigeria and China are the largest producers of millets in the world.
  • They account for more than 55% of the global production.
• It is grown in about 131 countries and is the traditional food for around 60 crore people in Asia & Africa.
• India is the largest producer of millet in the world and accounts for 41% of global millet production.

Why are Millets Considered Important ‘Nutri-Cereals’?

• Climate Resilient Staple Food Crops
  • Millets are drought-resistant, require less water and can grow in poor soil conditions.
  • This makes them a suitable food crop for areas with unpredictable weather patterns and water scarcity.
• Rich in nutrients
  • Millets are a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
• Gluten-free
  • Millets are naturally gluten-free, making them suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
• Adaptable
  • Millets can be grown in a variety of soils and climates, making them a versatile crop option for farmers.
• Sustainable
  • Millets are often grown using traditional farming methods, which are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Prelims Takeaway

• Millets
• Glycemic Index