New Delhi, November 20: In a major policy shift to promote coarse grain cultivation and procurement, the Indian government has approved a revised commission rate of ₹27 per quintal for maize, jowar, and ragi, aligning it with the rate offered for wheat.
The decision follows recommendations from a committee constituted by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), aimed at incentivizing local procurement Societies and supporting farmers engaged in millet and coarse grain production.
According to official data, India procured over 5.6 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of coarse grains in the 2024–25 fiscal year, with Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra leading the procurement volumes.
This policy update is expected to:
- Encourage higher procurement of coarse grains across states
- Strengthen support for local Societies involved in procurement operations
- Provide a major boost to the Shree Anna Yojana, the government’s flagship initiative promoting millets and traditional grains for nutritional security
The move aligns with India’s broader push toward crop diversification, especially in regions facing water stress due to paddy overproduction. Coarse grains like jowar and ragi require significantly less water and are more resilient to climate variability.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued emphasis on promoting Shree Anna (millets) as part of India’s food security and nutrition strategy, this revised commission is expected to benefit thousands of farmers and procurement bodies nationwide.
