GROWTH PATTERNS OF MILLET PRODUCTION IN KARNATAKA : A STATISTICAL APPROACH

Agriculture plays a crucial role in the Indian economy.Millets, small-seeded annual grasses known as Nutri-Cereals, are rich in micronutrients like iron, zinc, and calcium.Their climate resilience and low glycemic index make them ideal for cultivation in dry, marginal lands.In recognition of their benefits, the Indian government proposed 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM) to the United Nations.This study focuses on the trend analysis of area and production of millets in Karnataka from 2006-07 to 2021-22, using secondary data from the District Statistical Office, Dharwad, and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Bangalore.A trend analysis for the area and production of millets in Karnataka was conducted using a variety of linear and non-linear models, including Linear, Logarithmic, Quadratic, Cubic, Inverse, Power, S-curve, and Exponential models.The cubic model provided the best fit for most millet areas and production, except for little millet area, where the inverse model was more accurate.Sorghum showed a significant negative Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for both area and production, while pearl millet, finger millet, and little millet exhibited significant negative CAGR for area.Small millets demonstrated a positive significant CAGR for production, though foxtail millet had a negative nonsignificant CAGR for area and a positive nonsignificant CAGR for production.Among all millets, finger millet showed the highest stability in both area and production, highlighting its resilience.