Promotion of cultivation and consumption of nutri-cereals in scheduled areas of Maharashtra

The report highlights that selective targeting of certain crops, primarily of cereals such as wheat and rice, through favourable agriculture investment and government procurement policies has led to decline in production as well as consumption of other nutrition rich food grains such as sorghum and millets. Through the course of our analysis, we have illustrated that the decline in levels of consumption of nutri-cereals is linked to declining levels of consumption of certain essential micronutrients required for healthy growth and development of physical and mental cognitive abilities of individuals. The adverse effect of consumption of food grains lacking in essential micro-nutrients is particularly manifested in women and children of growing age. Lastly, rather than growing crops that are leading to an increase in the environmental distress of the state, the rationale for agriculture development should be grounded in mitigation of adverse environmental impacts which are being felt in Maharashtra over the last few years.