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Rice subsidies make millets economically non‑competitive
  • The government allocates roughly ₹2,500 per tonne of rice as a price support, while millets receive no direct subsidy.
  • Dr. Vali calculates that a farmer earns about 30 % more per hectare with rice, despite higher input costs.
  • This disparity discourages millet cultivation, leading to reduced acreage and loss of traditional knowledge.
  • He suggests a parity subsidy for millets to level the playing field and encourage diversification.
  • The policy shift could also reduce the nation’s carbon footprint by cutting water‑intensive rice paddies.
Dr. Khadar ValiSignature Studios00:06:31

Supporting quotes

బియ్యం 3,000 రూపాయలు, కోరలు 500 రూపాయలు, ఇది హిడెన్ వాల్యూ. Dr. Khadar Vali
Cost comparison
బజార్కరణ వల్ల ఆహారాన్ని ప్రశ్నలు అడగకుండా మార్చుకుంటూ వస్తున్నాం. Dr. Khadar Vali
Market distortion

From this concept

Policy, Subsidies, and the Millet Gap

The guest critiques Indian agricultural policy that heavily subsidizes rice and wheat while neglecting millets, creating a market distortion that harms health and the environment.

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