Coarse Cereals

The Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) has made a fresh appeal to the government to reconsider its decision to extend the ban on de-oiled rice bran exports until January 31, 2025. The industry body argues that the continued restriction is causing severe underutilisation of processing plants, particularly in eastern India. In a letter to its members, SEA highlighted the plight of rice bran processors in West Bengal, where plants are operating at low capacity or shutting down entirely. The association warned that this situation is negatively impacting the production of rice bran oil nationwide. "We once again appeal to the government to reconsider this matter and allow the export of de-oiled rice bran in the larger interest of the industry, rice millers, farmers, and the nation," SEA President Ajay Jhunjhunwala stated. The industry's concerns extend beyond the export ban. Recent instances of adulteration in rice bran oil and de-oiled rice bran with substances like dolomite

The Centre should include more millets and coarse grains in diets of school-going children under the PM POSHAN scheme, a parliamentary panel has recommended. It noted that there is an increase in student enrolment in schools and recommended that the Ministry of Education should ensure that the increased number of students are covered under the PM POSHAN scheme by making necessary augmentation in the budget allocation. "It is encouragingly evident that there is increment in enrolment of children from 11.80 crores to 12.21 crores in 2021-22. "The committee, accordingly, recommends that the department should make sure even the increased number of enrolled students are covered under the blanket of PM POSHAN scheme and make necessary augmentations in the budget allocation, student data and policy ambit," the panel said in its report. The panel has suggested that the department should conduct a fresh survey or evaluation in coordination with an independent agency, especially in view of .

Millets are reemerging as nutri-cereals or smart foods, thanks to their therapeutic qualities and nutritional superiority compared to rice, wheat. What will make this a 'wonder crop' of masses?

In several states, farmers have already moved on to other short-duration crops such as pulses and coarse cereals abandoning paddy

Government confident of bumper harvest; could cool down inflation but experts say excess rains, pest attach could play spoilsport in some crops

Since coarse grains require less water, UP has been encouraging farmers to cultivate prominent coarse cereals like maize, jowar, bajra and jau

Nutritional value, market demand, economical cultivation are tilting the scale in favour of coarse cereals