Increase in area under small scale millet cultivation in Coimbatore district

There has been a noticeable increase in the cultivation of minor millets in Coimbatore district. This is due to the nationwide push by the central government in 2023-24 as part of the International Year of Millets and the initiatives taken under the Tamil Nadu Millet Mission.

According to officials, strips of fallow land have been brought under cultivation of small millets. Farmers have cultivated small millets on a total of over 30,000 hectares in Coimbatore district, which includes a part of the fallow land, official sources said.

According to researchers in the region, there has been a welcome change in the food consumption pattern of health-conscious people, especially people with diabetes, indicating an increase in the intake of millets, which are rich in proteins and amino acids. Retail outlets are witnessing an increase in sales of packaged millets, especially for preparing porridge and dosas, the studies said.

In Coimbatore district, farmers mainly cultivate sorghum (jowar), cumbu and ragi, a senior official said.

Cultivation of minor millets was delayed in Coimbatore this year due to the late onset of southwest monsoon. However, the area under cultivation has increased in the last few years, the official said, adding that millets are grown under both rainfed and irrigated conditions in the district.

After the launch of the Millet Mission, the state government has made a budgetary allocation of ₹200 crore for the period 2024-25 for Kalaignarin Anaithugrama Orunginaintha Velan Valarchi Thittamwhereby vacant land is made buildable.

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University through its Millet Department has undertaken extensive research on crop improvement resulting in the introduction of five high yielding hybrids and 43 varieties in sorghum, nine high yielding hybrids and eight varieties in cumbu, 17 varieties in ragi and 26 varieties in other minor millets.