January 16: Although the area of millet cultivation is shrinking in Nepal, it has been found that the production of the crop is increasing. According to the last ten years’ data prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the area of millet farming in Nepal decreased by around 12,500 hectares.

According to the data provided by the Ministry, 315,067 metric tons of millet was produced in 278,030 hectares of land in the fiscal year (FY) 2068/69. In the last 10 years, the area of millet production decreased by 12,629 hectares to 265,401 hectares. Meanwhile, the production volume increased by 11,376 metric tons.

Head of the Centre for Crop Development and Agro Biodiversity Conservation Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha informed that farmers are using Kavre 1, Kavre 2, Okhale, Dalle and other advanced varieties of millet seeds with the help of the center, increasing the productivity as compared to the past. According to him, productivity was 1.13 metric tons per hectare 10 years ago and now it is 1.22 tons.

Since the farmers' attraction towards millet farming was decreasing, the government of Nepal started celebrating the International Millet Crop Year from this year to promote these crops internationally. The United Nations is preparing to celebrate the English year 2023 as the Year of Millet upon India's proposal.

Nepal is also going to participate in the promotion and value addition of millet variety. The ministry informed that a concept paper is being prepared on how to celebrate the millet crop year. For the past three years, the government has been giving subsidies in collaboration with the local level to promote millet farming and increase production. According to Shrestha, subsidies worth Rs 26 million have been given to the farmers in 133 rural municipalities so far.