The Anantapur District administration has begun popularising the cultivation of millets in the International Year of Millets in 2023. It had set a target of doubling the total sown area of Jowar from 5,300 acres this kharif to 10,100 acres by the next year.
The first batch of millets, beginning with Ragi, was distributed through the Public Distribution System (PDS) from June 1 in the district. To encourage the cultivation of millets, the government will now buy hybrid sorghum at Rs. 3,180 per quintal minimum support price against Rs. 2,970 last season and Ragi at Rs. 3,846 against Rs. 35,78 per quintal last season.
Last year the Civil Supplies Corporation procured 125 MTs of Jowar within the district and brought the balance of 500 MTs from Karnataka to bridge the gap.
Jowar was procured at Rs.29.70 per kg, and Ragi was procured free of cost from Karnataka under the support of the Government of India.
The Joint Collector has ordered all agricultural officials to organize awareness programmes on the cultivation of millets in the district at all the revenue divisions, mandals, and Rythu Bharosa Kendras.
Grama Sabhas are being organised at various places to tell farmers about the benefits of cultivating millets. The farmers are being made aware of the benefits provided by the State/Central governments to increase the area under cultivation.
The Jowar varieties being promoted are Mahindra C-43, Mahyco -51; Mahalaxmi Private Hybrids and N-13,14,15 and these were abundantly available in the market, he said.
The right time for sowing Jowar, Ragi and Korra was between July 15 and 31, and Korra is presently being produced on 5740 acres, which will be increased to 6500 acres, said Garg. Mini kits of seeds procured by the AP Seeds Corporation would be supplied to the farmers.