Millet production, imports on the rise

Millet, once considered a food grain for the poor, is now recognized as a ‘superfood’ due to its numerous health benefits. Consequently, both domestic production and import of millet have increased in recent years.

Millet can be cultivated in all 77 districts of Nepal. It thrives in dry and less fertile soil which makes it suitable for environments ranging from the Himalayas to the Terai. The government has provided over a billion of rupees in subsidies over the past five years to promote the production of indigenous crops, including millet. Additionally, the budget has directed authorities to incorporate millet into school meals to boost the consumption of healthy millet-based dishes.

The growing demand for millet is attributed to awareness of healthy lifestyle among the public. Millet is particularly beneficial for people with diabetes, which has contributed to its growing popularity. Even star-rated hotels have started offering dishes made from millet.

Traditionally, millet was used primarily for home-brewed liquor, but its production is now on the rise. Recently, millet is also being exported, though in small quantities.

327,000 tons annual production 

Dr Ramkrishna Shrestha, a joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that millet is cultivated on about 265,000 hectares of land, with an annual production of approximately 327,000 tons.

In 2017/18, 313,987 tons of millet were grown on 263,497 hectares of land, with a per-hectare yield of 11,092 kg. The production and productivity levels are similar today. Approximately 95 percent of millet is produced in hilly areas. Khotang, Sindhupalchok, Baglung, Syangja, Kaski, Okhaldhunga, Gorkha and Sindhuli are the major producers of millet in the country. Millet constitutes 7.7 percent of the country’s total food production and can be planted in high hilly areas up to 3,100 meters above sea level, according to Shrestha.

Rs 755m worth of millets imported annually 

With increasing demand, millet imports have significantly risen in recent years. According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported 15.2m kilograms of millet worth Rs 754.43m in 2023/24. In 2022/23, the import was 18.4m kilograms worth Rs 732m.

In 2008/09, Nepal imported 12.37m kilograms of millet valued at Rs 65.32m.

Although Nepal is the world’s 13th largest producer of millet, its production is not sufficient to meet growing demand. Most of Nepal’s millet imports come from India.

A 2020 study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that Nepal produced 320,953 tons of millet that year, while India produced 12.49m tons. In the previous fiscal year, Nepal imported 15.29m kilograms of millet from India.

Nepal exported 3,500 kilograms of millet in 2011/12, which increased to 22,297 kilograms in 2022/23 and 46,758 kilograms in 2023/24, with an export value of Rs 6.19m.

Nepal exports millet to countries including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the US.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets to boost the crop’s consumption and production. Likewise, efforts are underway to designate Shrawan 15 (end of August) as National Millets Day.

Rs 1bn subsidy for promotion of indigenous crops 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has allocated more than Rs 1bn in subsidies over the past five years to enhance the production of various indigenous crops, including millet.

These conditional grants have been distributed to around 200 rural municipalities, which have received subsidies two or three times over the past five years. The subsidies were first provided to farmers in 30 local units in 2017/18.

The government also offers a subsidy of Rs 10 per kg if millet is sold in coordination with the relevant local unit.

With the global recognition of the importance of millet, donor agencies are supporting efforts to expand the production of indigenous crops. Dr Shrestha, a former chief of the Crop Development and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation Center, said initiatives are underway to promote millet cultivation in Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The FAO has recently started efforts to advance millet farming in these countries.

The government is also developing a national framework outlining the responsibilities of all three tiers of government for promoting millet crop. The previous fiscal year’s budget included provisions to incorporate millet crops into school meals and authorized the Food Management and Trading Company to purchase millet from farmers.

Compared to other traditional crops, millet offers balanced nutrition, including protein, minerals, vitamins, and fiber, say experts. As a gluten-free food, millet is a suitable alternative for people sensitive to gluten, who may be at risk of non-communicable diseases and other health issues. This is why many people are shifting from wheat to millet.