Millets: The Economics of an Old Grain

Why millets lost ground to rice and wheat after the Green Revolution, why governments are promoting them again, and what it takes to change what people grow and eat.

Millets, such as jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet) and ragi (finger millet), were staple foods across India for thousands of years. Over recent decades, they gave way to rice and wheat. Now governments are trying to bring them back.

Why millets declined

The Green Revolution focused on high-yielding rice and wheat, supported by irrigation, fertilisers and research.
Government procurement at minimum support prices mostly favoured rice and wheat, giving farmers guaranteed markets for these crops.
The Public Distribution System supplied cheap rice and wheat, shifting diets.
Millets were seen as “poor people’s food”, while polished rice and wheat became status foods.

As a result, the area under millets fell sharply.

Why promote them again

Nutrition: millets are rich in fibre, minerals and protein. Ragi, for example, is high in calcium.
Climate resilience: millets tolerate drought and high temperatures and need far less water than rice.
Soil and water: shifting from rice to millets in water-stressed regions can reduce groundwater depletion.
Farmer income: millets need fewer inputs, lowering costs.

The policy push

India proposed that the United Nations declare 2023 the International Year of Millets, which it did. The government renamed millets Shree Anna and increased promotion. Some states, notably Odisha through its Millet Mission launched in 2017, and Karnataka, added millets to public food distribution and school meals.

The economics challenge

Demand: urban consumers must want millets. Processed millet products are growing, but often at premium prices.
Processing: millets are harder to process than rice and wheat, requiring investment in mills.
Yields and incomes: farmers need reliable markets and prices; procurement support helps.
Habits: food preferences change slowly.

The ragi farmer

A farmer in a dry district of Karnataka grows ragi, which survives a weak monsoon when neighbours' paddy fails. When the state begins buying ragi for its public distribution system at a guaranteed price, more farmers in the area return to growing it.

Thinking farmers stopped growing millets because they are inferior crops

Policy choices, especially procurement and subsidies favouring rice and wheat, shaped the shift. Changing those incentives matters.

Key takeaways

Millets declined as policy favoured rice and wheat after the Green Revolution.
They are nutritious and climate-resilient, and they use less water.
2023 was declared the International Year of Millets at India's proposal.
Demand, processing and reliable markets are key to a revival.