With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach. 2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme. 3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Question

GSHardPrelims 2016Social Issues & Schemes

With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation

Statement 1 is Correct: Launched in 2011-12 as part of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), the Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP) was designed to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technologies, including value addition, using a cluster-based approach to enhance millet productivity.

Statement 2 is Correct: Millets are traditionally grown in rainfed and arid regions with poor soil quality. The primary cultivators in these regions are small, marginal, and tribal farmers who lack access to expensive irrigation; therefore, the scheme specifically targets these vulnerable groups as they have the largest stake in millet production.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: The scheme provides 'Minikits' and input kits (nutrients and plant protection) to farmers within identified millet clusters to improve existing yields. It does not include a mandate or specific incentives to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation.