The government’s efforts to promote millet i.e. coarse grains have started bearing fruits. Mandua, which was neglected till some time ago, is now being sold off quickly. This year, the government itself has procured 3100 metric tonnes of Mandua from the farmers of the state through various cooperative societies and farmers’ unions. This year, the support price of Mandua for farmers has been fixed at Rs 42.46 per kg and this purchase has also been done at this rate. Mandua has been traditionally cultivated in the mountainous regions of the state, but it was also not untouched by the impact of changing times. When the state government along with the Center took steps to promote millet, the days of Mandua, the main coarse grain crop, have also brightened.
Purchase from farmers at minimum support price
Along with encouraging farmers to produce Mandua, the government started purchasing it from farmers at minimum support price under the National Food Security Mission. Not only this, Mandua was included in the nutrition program of public distribution system to mid-day meal and Anganwadi centers. Through the State Millet Mission, steps were taken to promote millet crops and then from purchase to storage. 270 centers were established across the state with the help of multi-purpose primary agricultural cooperative societies and farmer producer organizations for the purchase of Mandua. In the year 2020-21, the number of these purchase centers was only 23.
Incentive amount to unions and committees
Incentive amount was given to farmer unions and cooperative societies that cooperated in the purchase of Mandua. The support price of Mandua has also jumped by 68 percent. The support price of Mandua was Rs 25 per kg in the year 2021-22, which increased to Rs 42.46 per kg in the year 2024-25. Along with the open market, Mandua products are also being promoted through the umbrella brand House of Himalayas of local products.
