A Study on Area-Production-Productivity of Minor Millets in India

Author: Sangappa, D. Rafi and K. Srinivasa Babu

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Abstract

India produces about 11% cereals of the world and ranks third in production after China and U.S.A. Due to technological advancements, the output and productivity of other significant crops like minor millets have been supplanted with those of dominant crops like paddy, wheat, and maize. Minor millets are susceptible to frost and can grow at warm environment with temperatures between 20-35 degrees Celsius. Millets may be cultivated with less rainfall since they are crops that are fed by the rain. Major millets require 450 mm of rainfall whereas small millets only need 350 mm. Area, production, and productivity data from 1950-2022 for small millets were collected for the present research from Indiastat.com. Compound Annual Growth Rate analysis was performed for drawing the conclusions from the data set. Using a time series data set of small millets and linear functions, the exponential CAGR was estimated. The major challenge in the present study is availability of data regarding small millets as it required the credentials of Indiastat.com. In India the growth rates of area, and production of minor millets were found negative and a similar picture of the growth rate in the production was also noticed. On the contrary, the growth rate of minor millets' productivity was found positive in India.

Keywords

Minor Millets, Area-production-productivity, Nutritional, Temperature

Conclusion

Due to increased cultivation of cereal crops in India the cultivation of minor millets has been declining over the past five decades. Eastern regions of India, particularly Manipur, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, consume more minor millets as they are more nutrient-richer and gluten free compared to cereals. Minor millets are susceptible to frost and can grow at warm environment with temperatures between 20-35 degrees Celsius. Millets may be cultivated with less rainfall since they are crops that are fed by the rain. Major millets require 450 mm of rainfall whereas small millets only need 350 mm. For this study, data covering a total of 72 years, from 1950 to 2022, were gathered on the area, production, and productivity of minor millets. The productivity of small millets has increased even the area under cultivation and the production have declined. Due to the expansion of the cultivation of cereals, pulses, and cash crops, the overall time series data of minor millets revealed that the cultivation area has been decreasing by 3.30 percent annually. The transfer of the cultivation area for other crops has resulted in a 2.20 percent annual drop in the yield of small millets. Minor millets' output has increased recently due to the availability of high-yielding varieties, pest and disease resistant varieties, and improved cultivation techniques, rising by 1.05 percent annually. In India the growth rates of area, production, and productivity of minor millets were found negative. A similar picture of the growth rate in the production of minor millets was seen almost all over India. On the contrary, the growth rate of minor millets' productivity was found positive in India.

References

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How to cite this article

Sangappa, D. Rafi and K. Srinivasa Babu (2023). A Study on Area-Production-Productivity of Minor Millets in India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(1): 275-280.