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APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 22/11/2024

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (22-11-2024).

Topic: Women SHGs to Promote Millet Farming in Assam
GS Paper 3: Agriculture; Women Empowerment

How can millet farming contribute to addressing nutritional security, women empowerment, and climate resilience in Assam? Discuss the role of women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in promoting millet cultivation and the challenges they face.

Model Answer

Introduction:
Millets, often termed “superfoods,” are nutrient-rich, drought-resistant crops essential for ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. In Assam, the government has engaged women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the National Millet Mission to enhance millet production, thereby addressing nutritional needs, empowering rural women, and fostering climate-resilient farming.

Significance of Millet Farming in Assam:

Nutritional Security:
- Rich in essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and dietary fiber.
- Promotes healthier diets in rural and urban populations.
Women Empowerment:
- SHGs provide women with opportunities for income generation through farming and marketing.
- Encourages skill development in sustainable agricultural practices.
Climate Resilience:
- Millets thrive in water-scarce and drought-prone areas.
- Low input requirements make them suitable for small-scale and subsistence farming.
Economic Sustainability:
- Millets fetch higher prices in niche markets due to their health benefits.
- Opens avenues for value-added products like millet-based snacks and flours.

Role of Women SHGs in Promoting Millet Cultivation:

Training and Capacity Building: Women SHGs are trained in modern farming techniques, processing, and marketing.
Market Linkages: SHGs play a key role in connecting rural producers with urban consumers.
Community Mobilization: Women-led groups encourage widespread adoption of millet farming within their communities.

Challenges Faced by Women SHGs in Millet Farming:

Market Access:
- Inadequate infrastructure for storage, transportation, and marketing.
- Limited awareness of market opportunities for value-added millet products.
Traditional Crop Bias:
- Preference for high-yield crops like rice and wheat due to existing subsidies and demand.
Knowledge Gaps:
- Insufficient understanding of millet-specific farming practices and crop diversification.
Financial Constraints:
- Limited access to credit for SHGs to scale their operations.

Way Ahead:

Develop Millet Value Chains:
- Strengthen processing and packaging units to create market-ready products.
- Promote partnerships with food processing companies for value addition.
Policy Support:
- Extend subsidies and incentives to millet farmers, akin to rice and wheat.
- Create marketing platforms like e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) for millets.
Awareness Campaigns:
- Highlight the nutritional and ecological benefits of millets to increase demand.
Financial Inclusion:
- Ensure easy access to credit and grants for women SHGs under the National Millet Mission.

Conclusion:
Promoting millet farming through women-led SHGs aligns with India’s goals of ensuring food security, women empowerment, and climate resilience. By addressing existing challenges, Assam can emerge as a leader in sustainable millet production, contributing to local economies and global food systems.

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