India Urged to Protect Millet Farmers to Boost Biodiversity
A Key to Biodiversity and Climate Resilience
In India, experts are urging the government to protect millet farmers and their production areas. To foster biodiversity and support the farmers who grow these vital dryland crops. Kanneganti Ravi from Rythu Swarajya Vedika has highlighted the decline of millet cultivation. Particularly in regions like Zaheerabad, Telangana, as state land allotments increasingly shift toward industrial use. Ravi warned that such decisions jeopardize millet production. Which is essential for climate resilience and ecological balance.Challenges Facing India’s Millet Farmers
Millet farmers in India are up against numerous challenges, including limited financial incentives compared to paddy farmers, who receive a bonus of  only $0,06 per kg. This financial disparity encourages many farmers to switch to water-intensive crops, reducing biodiversity and sustainability. Additionally, increased use of chemical pesticides is impacting ecological diversity in these areas.Ravi pointed out that non-paddy farmers, such as those cultivating millet, face difficulties in accessing institutional credit, creating further disincentives for millet farming. The shift of crops like maize toward industrial applications also limits available land for millet.