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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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