Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU /Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has procured over 3100 metric tonnes of Mandua (finger millet) from farmers this year, offering them a support price of ₹4,200 per quintal. The procurement, carried out through various cooperative societies and farmers’ unions, reflects the state’s growing commitment to promoting millets, traditionally cultivated in Uttarakhand’s terraced fields.
Mandua cultivation, once overlooked, has gained renewed interest due to government efforts under the National Food Security Mission and the newly launched State Millet Mission. These initiatives have helped increase both production and cultivated areas. To encourage farmers, the government began purchasing Mandua at minimum support prices (MSP) in 2022 and integrated millets into nutrition programs like mid-day meals, Anganwadi centers, and public distribution systems. Additionally, farmers received up to 80% subsidies on seeds and fertilizers.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized that Mandua is not only a traditional crop of Uttarakhand but also highly nutritious and organic. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promotion of millets for increasing demand and reaffirmed the state’s focus on direct procurement to boost production.
Secretary of Cooperation, R. Meenakshisundaram, highlighted the establishment of 270 collection centers in 2024-25, up from just 23 in 2020-21. Through these centers, 3100.17 metric tonnes of Mandua were procured, with a support price of ₹42.46 per kg. To incentivize procurement, the government provided ₹150 per quintal to farmers’ unions and ₹50,000 per center to cooperative societies, ensuring payments within 72 hours.
The government’s initiatives have not only enhanced Mandua production but also improved farmer welfare, signaling a promising future for millet cultivation in Uttarakhand.
