The State government has encouraged millet cultivation among farmers and is providing cash incentives for those opting for it. This was stated by Mysuru district in-charge Minister H.C. Mahadevappa after inaugurating a three-day millet mela or Siridhanya Sambhrama which got under way here on Tuesday.
The mela being held at the Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry is to commemorate International Year of Millets 2023. It is being conducted by Sahaja Samrudha in association with Department of Agriculture, SWISSAID, FiBl, under the CROPS4HD (Consumption of Resilient Orphan Crops for Healthier Diets) Project.
The Minister said the State government as a policy had announced ₹10,000 per hectare of millet cultivation as an incentive to farmers in order to encourage its production in the international year of the millets. He said the organic and natural production of millets held lessons for farmers as it has the potential to reduce the cost of cultivation and enhance their income. The increase in cultivation cost was one of the factors reducing the profitability of agriculture and reducing farmers’ income and hence millet cultivation was a panacea, Mr. Mahadevappa added.
