According to an official, the decision was made during a meeting of the state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. "The government has decided to implement the state's millet mission scheme in all districts for a period of two years through the farmers' welfare and agriculture department," the source added.
During the two years (2023-24 and 2024-25), a total of Rs 23.25 crore will be spent on the scheme, he said. Under the program, farmers will get quality-certified millets seeds at an 80% subsidy through seed cooperatives and government agencies.
According to the official, a committee would be formed under the state agriculture production commissioner to oversee the mission's implementation. The initiative will be widely marketed in order to stimulate millet cultivation, processing, and commercialization.
Aside from that, farmers will be trained through study trips, and fairs, workshops, seminars, food festivals, and road shows will be planned to promote it, according to the official. Millets are being pushed in the country due to their excellent nutritional value as well as their importance in the country's cuisine tradition, he added.
He also stated that in any government project where lunch or dinner is provided, one dish consisting of millets will be served, and hostels and midday meals will have millets dishes once a week.
The state cabinet also accepted the inclusion of transgender people in the Backward Class category. They will receive all of the benefits of Backward Classes as a result of this, according to the official.
