Trend Analysis of Millet Production and Trade in Nepal in Order to Assess its Base while Celebrating International Year of Millet 2023
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to analyze the status of millet production and trade in Nepal in order to assess its base in context of celebration of international year of millet (IYM) 2023 by using trend analysis technique. The foundation of this study is based on the data of millet published by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Singhadurbar, Kathmandu in various years. The growth rate in the area of millet in Nepal was found in ‘decreasing trend’ while the growth rate of both production and productivity of millet was found in ‘increasing trend’ in the period of 10 years between 2011/12 to 2020/21. Nepal was found involved in trade of just ‘single item’ of milleti.emillet seeds in the period from 2017/18 to 2021/22 which is a clear indication that trade of millet in the country lacks product diversification and value addition strategies. The growth rate in export of millet seeds was found in ‘decreasing trend’ in terms of quantity of export and ‘increasing trend’ in terms of monetary value of export in the same period. It might have been seen due to the fluctuation in the price of millet in the international market. The growth rate in import of millet seeds was found in ‘decreasing trend’ both in terms of volume and value of imports. It is the clear indication of lower preference of the farmers for growing millet over other crops in one hand and in another hand it clearly reflects the lower preference of consumers to consume millet over wheat and rice as it is perceived as the ‘crop of poor’ in society. The base of Nepal in the production and trade of millet was found ‘weak but with tremendous possibility to improve’ its performance in global market. In the scenario of declaration to celebrate 2023 as the International Year of Millet (IYM) by seventy fifth session of United Nations General Assembly, Nepal has opportunity to strengthen the trade of millet in Nepal through appropriate policy instruments for expansion of millet area, promotion in the use of improved varieties of millets, production based incentives, providing trainings and capacity building programs for farmers along with assured market mechanisms for achieving the actual motive of celebrating IYM and to bring the existing ‘underutilized’ status of millet into the limelight of ‘commercialization’.
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Introduction
Millet (Eleusine coracana L.)is fourth most important crop of Nepal after rice, wheat and maize in terms of area and production [1]. It is mainly grown under maize/millet relay system in mid-hills of Nepal [2]. It is mainly produced in marginal hilly areas of Nepal and plays an important role in the food security of Nepalese poor and marginalized farmers [3], [4]. According to Luitel [5] around 39.7% (58512.71 km2) area of Nepalis highly suitable for finger millet, with cultivation mostly between 96 and 2300 mabove sea level. Eastern and central parts of Nepal have more suitable areas than western parts. According to MoALD [6] it contributes 1.19% on Agriculture Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) of Nepal.
Millet can easily thrive in low fertile marginal land and less dependent on chemical fertilizer [7]. It is a hardy crop which can tolerate the scarcity of water in the brink of climate change. Hence it is avery important crop to maintain food security in the country even in the adverse circumstances of climate change [8], [9], [10]. Tesfaye [11] had claimed millet as the alternative crop to corn and soybean. According to Li [12] though millet being underutilized crops it has high nutritional value and health benefits. They contain high amount of vitamin A, protein and oil contents than maize. As the recognition of the nutritious value, climate resilient capacity and potential to diversify global food system the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets [13]. It an opportunity for Nepal for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) or Agenda 2030 especially Goal 2 of ending hunger [14] and maintaining food security in the country. Besides celebrating IYM 2023 is equally helpful in improving the decreasing attraction of Nepali farmers’ towards millet production and trade [15]. This study is carried outwith the main aim of assessing the base of millet production and trade in Nepal in context of celebrating IYM
Conclusion
Millet is underutilized but highly potential crop of Nepal. In the period of a 10 years between 2011/12 to 2020/21 the growth rate in the area of millet was found in ‘decreasing trend’ while the growth rate of both production and productivity of millet was found in ‘increasing trend’. The existing social perception towards millet as the crop of ‘poor and backward people’ can be one of the major reason behind the decreasing trend in the area of millet. Nepal was found very primitive in terms of trade of millet because it was found involved in trade of just a ‘single item’ of milleti.emillet seeds in the period from 2017/18 to 2021/22. It alarmingly indicates that the government of Nepal and other concerned stakeholders should have to move toward products diversification and value addition strategies of millet in order to get benefit from the trade. The growth rate in millet seed export was found ‘decreasing trend’ in terms of volume of export and ‘increasing trend’ in terms of monetary value of export throughout the same time period. The variation in the price of millet in the global market could be one of the reason behind it. In terms of volume and monetary value of imports, the growth rate in import of millet seeds was found in ‘decreasing trend’ in that period. It is the clear indication of lower p
