Production and marketing of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) in Tamil Nadu, India- An economic analysis

The minor millet demand gains momentum due to the health benefits and the United Nations also declared the year 2023 as International Year of the Millet. The little millet has been one of the potential minor millet crop produced traditionally in the Tamil Nadu state. As the little millet crop have potential that can be exploited in the state, this crop was selected for the study. The study area selected was Tiruvannamalai and Dharmapuri districts, these districts contribute more than 70 per cent of little millet area in the state. The primary data was collected from stakeholders during 2021 to assess the marketing of little millet and secondary data for 30 years from 1990-91 to 2020-21 was used to assess the production performance of little millet in the state. The results revealed that the area and production had negative growth in all three decades and area reduced drastically during 2001-02 to 2010-11, but the productivity growth was positive in past three decades. The price spread for little millet rice was lowest in channel IV which was55.83 per cent among the four identified marketing channels. Farmer's share in consumer's rupee was relatively higher in channel IV, which was 44.17 per cent. Marketing efficiency was relatively higher in channel IV in Acharya's approach i.e., 0.80 per cent and Shepherd's approach i.e., 1.79 per cent for little millet rice. The major constraints faced by the sample farmers in marketing of little millet were the price fluctuation and late payment by the traders.