JAIPUR: Rajasthan accounts for 42% of the total bajra production in the country. While the state’s cost of production of millets is the lowest in the country, the gross returns are also at the bottom. States such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have higher gross returns in millets, according to PwC, a consultant firm.
“Farmers in Rajasthan, especially in the western region, do not use fertliser or any other inputs. The crop grows even with just one rain shower. Given the soil quality, farmers do not have scope for any other crops. In such a situation, bajra becomes the only option. Even a lower yield is better than nothing, as their investment is almost nothing,” said Jitendra Joshi, chairman of FICCI Task Force on Millets, at an event organised by FICCI on Thursday.
Joshi said his advice to bajra farmers would be to replace their seeds in order to obtain a higher yield. “The replacement should be done in phases so that farmers are not burdened. Afterwards, they can go for fertilizer. The prices of bajra have risen by around 50% in the past two years,” said Joshi.
In the country’s millets basket, bajra contributes 56%, while sorghum (jowar) and ragi make up the rest among the major crops. Despite a normal monsoon for 2023, India’s Met department has forecast El Nino conditions to develop this monsoon season.
“Since bajra does not need much water, farmers can increase their crop acreage. They can also go for varieties with shorter duration as that would reduce the risk of rain deficiency. Shorter-duration crops will allow them to have their normal mustard sowing at the right time,” said Joshi.
“Farmers in Rajasthan, especially in the western region, do not use fertliser or any other inputs. The crop grows even with just one rain shower. Given the soil quality, farmers do not have scope for any other crops. In such a situation, bajra becomes the only option. Even a lower yield is better than nothing, as their investment is almost nothing,” said Jitendra Joshi, chairman of FICCI Task Force on Millets, at an event organised by FICCI on Thursday.
Joshi said his advice to bajra farmers would be to replace their seeds in order to obtain a higher yield. “The replacement should be done in phases so that farmers are not burdened. Afterwards, they can go for fertilizer. The prices of bajra have risen by around 50% in the past two years,” said Joshi.
In the country’s millets basket, bajra contributes 56%, while sorghum (jowar) and ragi make up the rest among the major crops. Despite a normal monsoon for 2023, India’s Met department has forecast El Nino conditions to develop this monsoon season.
“Since bajra does not need much water, farmers can increase their crop acreage. They can also go for varieties with shorter duration as that would reduce the risk of rain deficiency. Shorter-duration crops will allow them to have their normal mustard sowing at the right time,” said Joshi.
