Millets National Media Portal
Millets National Media Portal
Tamil Nadu has announced a renewed push to expand millet cultivation under the Tamil Nadu Millet Mission as part of the Agriculture Budget 2026-27. With consumer demand for nutritious cereals continuing to grow, the initiative aims to increase millet production and productivity while strengthening market opportunities for farmers. The mission will be implemented with an outlay of Rs 63.81 crore, jointly funded by the Union and State governments.
The programme will focus on major millet crops, including pearl millet (cumbu), sorghum (cholam) and finger millet (ragi). Farmers will receive support to adopt improved production technologies, enhance cultivation practices and gain access to post-harvest infrastructure. These interventions are designed to reduce production constraints, improve efficiency and help millet growers secure better economic returns.
Under the mission, the government plans to facilitate farmer groups, provide subsidies through alternate crop cultivation packages and distribute seed minikits. Agricultural machinery hiring centres and primary processing centres will also be established to strengthen the millet value chain. Improved access to machinery and processing facilities could help farmers reduce costs, minimise post-harvest losses and improve the marketability of their produce.
The Tamil Nadu Millet Mission is expected to benefit approximately 4.75 lakh farmers cultivating millets across 11.80 lakh acres during the current financial year. By supporting production at this scale, the government aims to diversify cropping patterns and create stronger income opportunities for farming communities throughout the state.
Millets are increasingly recognised as nutritious and climate-resilient crops that can grow with comparatively fewer inputs. Expanding their cultivation could therefore contribute to sustainable agriculture while helping farmers respond to changing climatic conditions and growing demand for healthier food choices.
The mission combines farmer organisation, improved technology, mechanisation, processing infrastructure and market development to make millet cultivation more competitive. Through these investments, Tamil Nadu aims to strengthen farmer incomes, expand millet production, improve nutritional security and build a more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural sector.
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