Rajasthan’s Millet Outlets Initiative

• 17 Sep 2025

Why in News?

The Rajasthan Government has set up 152 millet outlets through cooperative societies in rural areas, surpassing its initial target of 34 by more than four times.

Key Points

• About: The opening of millet outlets was part of a larger strategy announced in the 2025-26 State Budget to generate employment opportunities in the region.
  • The ambitious project aims to popularize millets as a nutritious, affordable, and sustainable alternative to traditional grains in everyday consumption.
• Role of Cooperative Societies: The outlets are set up through organizations such as the Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumer Federation, District Cooperative Consumer Societies, and Kraya Vikray Sahakari Samitis.
  • These societies have been instrumental in promoting millets and encouraging their inclusion in the diet, thereby helping improve community health and well-being.
• Promotion of SHGs: In addition to millet products from cooperative institutions, products from women’s self-help groups are also available at these outlets, supporting women's empowerment and entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Millet

• It is a collective term referring to several small-seeded annual grasses that are cultivated as grain crops, primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions.
• Some of the common millets available in India are Ragi (Finger millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Sama (Little millet), Bajra (Pearl millet), and Variga (Proso millet).
  • The earliest evidence for these grains has been found in the Indus civilization and was one of the first plants domesticated for food.
• It is grown in about 131 countries and is the traditional food for around 60 crore people in Asia & Africa.
• India is the world's largest producer of millets with a share of 38.4% of the world’s production (FAO, 2023).
• Among all the states, Rajasthan has covered the largest area under millet cultivation, followed by Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.