Topic: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country
6. The government needs to focus on improving production, creating awareness on nutrition and health benefits and international outreach for mainstreaming millets. Elaborate. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India
Why the question:
The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Since that was at the initiative of India, which also accounts for a fifth of the world’s millets production, the Narendra Modi government would be expected to do something different this year to promote these “nutri-cereals” — going beyond just spreading awareness, or organising “special millets lunch” for parliamentarians and journalists.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about plethora of benefits offered by Millet production and measures needed to popularise it.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by mentioning giving context that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
Body:
Mention about the low demand of water and soil fertility needs to cultivate millets and millets as a nutritional package with whole lot of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids etc. Also mention that millets also offer a significant cost advantage over maize as a feedstock for bio-ethanol production. Bring in the aspect of food security and ecological benefits.
Next, write about the measures that are needed to popularise millets.
Conclusion:
Conclude by saying millets are the way forward in the food consumption area as it addresses the twin challenge of both nutritional security as well as climate change.
