To promote millets or ‘Shri Anna’ as branded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Uttar Pradesh government has purchased more than 100,000 tonnes of jowar (sorghum).
The procurement of jowar in the current kharif marketing season 2023-24 has earned the state farmers a sum of more than Rs 28 crore so far.
To boost the production and consumption of millets, the UP government under the International Year of Millets 2023 has organised ‘Shri Anna Mahotsav’.
The event seeks to nudge farmers to grow millets to increase their income and encourage people to adopt the indigenous food grains in their diet for health benefits.
Additionally, the state government has fixed the support price for hybrid and Maaldandi jowar at Rs 3,180 and Rs. 3,225 per quintal (100 kg) respectively. The jowar procurement cycle will continue till Dec 31, 2023.
Podcast -How is currency exchange rate fixed?
Meanwhile, the government agencies have procured almost 2.5 million tonnes of paddy (rice) from 370,000 farmers, who have been paid nearly Rs 4,670 crore as procurement continues briskly.