The findings from the study on ‘Introduction of Millets in the PDS in Karnataka undertaken by MSSRF as part of research under Pillar 2.1 (How do policies and strategies influence poverty and the nutrition impact of agriculture?) under LANSA programme, were shared at a meeting convened in the office of the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka on June 22.

The meeting was chaired by the ACS and DC - T M Vijaya Bhaskar and was attended by about twenty officials from different Government Departments. Uma Mahadevan - Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development, T N Prakash Kammaradi - Chairman, Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission, D P Biradar - Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences (Dharwad), K T Shantala - General Manager in-charge, Karnataka Food & Civil Supplies Department, and A Rajagopal - General Manager, Food Corporation of India, Karnataka, were among the senior officials present.

Following a presentation on LANSA by R V Bhavani, Programme Manager –LANSA-MSSRF mentioning the study objective, S C Rajashekar detailed the key findings of the Millet in PDS study. Thereafter, discussion was around the need for timely announcement of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to enable farmers to take the right decision. A longer procurement window was noted as an important aspect requiring immediate attention as well. It was proposed that millets could be introduced in the school midday meals on a weekly basis with local procurement of the crop. The Development Commissioner made a note of this suggestion to take forward further.

The detailed report of the research study here.