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HomePosts Tagged "millet industry in India"
AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Industry Reports / Analysis, Start ups

Let’s take stock of how impactful the International Year of Millet has been in India so far.

India is the world’s leading producer of millets accounting for over 40 per cent of global production. Andhra Pradesh stood in the first place in the country in millet productivity in 2022, as per the National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) annual report 2022-23. NABARD has been promoting 22 millet-based farmer producer companies in Andhra Pradesh. These FPCs have nearly 9,970 farmers as members and are engaged in millet-based business activities such as input supply, procurement, providing custom hiring services, and processing and marketing of the millets, among others. In order to provide support to entrepreneurs for recipes and value-added products to promote millet consumption under the International Year of Millet (IYoM) 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture has funded 66 startups with more than Rs 6.25 crore.

A remarkable increase in the number of startups in the millet sector has caught the government’s attention to turn the production and promotion of millet into a mass movement in India and abroad. According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India has witnessed more than 80 startups in the millet sector in the past year and a half. Let’s take stock of how impactful the International Year of Millet has been in India so far.

Plants in the ‘grass’ family are the botanical ancestors of millets. Their history may be traced all the way back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, making them one of the world’s oldest staple foods. 

Millets are the crop of the future as they provide the possibility of higher environmental sustainability and economic prosperity as the global agricultural and food production systems continue to cope with the increasing population. A nutritious alternative to wheat and rice, that doesn’t consume excess natural resources including water, millets don’t need extraneous chemical pesticides or fertilisers. Hence, smallholder farmers can afford to grow them. Millets have a stronger nutritional profile than wheat, rice, and maize, the three most widely produced grains in the world. They have a low glycemic index and are high in nutrients like fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

The World Bank states that between 32 and 132 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia will be plunged into poverty by 2030. Due to their great heat tolerance, capacity to flourish in water-poor and resource-poor soils, and physiological efficiency as C4 plants, millets are ideally suited to play the role of ‘future crops’ in climate resilient agriculture (CSA).

Sharing the broader picture of the millet world, T R Kesavan, Chairman, FICCI National Agriculture Committee and Group President, TAFE stated, “Millets, often referred to as nutri cereals, stand as a beacon of health, nutrition and sustainability. India, a prominent producer and consumer of millets, has risen to the forefront on the global stage by spearheading the International Year of Millets (IYoM). Millet production in India holds multifaceted importance encompassing nutrition, environment and economics. Suited to diverse conditions, millets offer essential nutrients, manage diabetes, enhance food security, conserve biodiversity and symbolise cultural heritage.”

Elaborating further on the topic, Ravinder Balain, President – South Asia Corteva Agriscience said, “2023 is the International Year of Millets. The government’s efforts in recognising the enormous potential of millets to generate livelihoods, increase farmers’ income and ensure food & nutritional security worldwide were crucial to generating the demand of the ‘Sri Anna’. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has taken a proactive multi-stakeholder engagement approach (engaging all the central government ministries, states/UTs, farmers, startups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian Embassies etc.) to achieve the aim of IYoM 2023 and taking Indian millets globally. India’s ambitious plan to increase millet cultivation, consumption, and doubling farmers’ income is a testament to the government’s effort in increasing millet cultivation through several national and state level schemes targeting millet farmers.”

“India is among the top 5 exporters of millet in the world. According to recent data by Trade Map, world export of millet has increased from    $400 million in 2020 to    $470 million in 2021. India exported millets worth    $75.46 million in 2022-23, compared with    $62.95 million in 2021-22. In the past few years and more so in 2023, there has been an increased focus on millet from many startups, large food corporations and other stakeholders in the food chain to bring innovation to this sector with the latest technologies, recipes, and products for domestic and outside consumers. Proactive efforts of the Centre in celebrating IYoM2023 has supported all these efforts from different stakeholders to make Millets a really happening industry,” he added further.

Highlighting more key points, Ajay Bhuwalka, CEO, Urban Monk Pvt. Ltd. said, “Millets are an ancient grain of India and was a staple grain before the green revolution. Most rural parts of the country still consume millet as their staple.  We are very confident that millet will definitely find its way back into urban kitchens due to its immense health benefits. Post-COVID, the consciousness of all people to lead a healthy lifestyle has gone up significantly. Thus, we are very confident that millets will be popularised.”

Echoing similar thoughts, Shashi Kant Singh, Partner, Agriculture and Food Sector, PwC India said, “Millions of farmers across the world depend on millets for livelihood, food and nutrition, with a majority of these crops tracing their origins back to Asia and Africa.” 

Sharing her views on millet cultivation, S B Anuradha, Owner, Amma’s Taste commented, “Pesticides and fertilisers are unnecessary for growing millet. So, there is essentially no harm done to the flora and fauna. There is no need to use preservatives in order to maintain the quality and freshness of millets and millet products. Increased millet cultivation provides additional organic forage for use by mulching animals. The quantity of milk produced is also expected to rise.”

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

Let's take stock of how impactful the

Agrotech, Foodgrains, India, Interaction

Jitendra Joshi Chair, FICCI Millet Task Force shares his thoughts with Agrospectrum on the background of the International Year of Millets.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has conceptualised a dedicated Task Force on Millets. The vision of the Task Force is to facilitate impactful partnerships to make the millet value chain more remunerative for farmers, beneficial to consumers, efficient and globally competitive. The Task Force works in tandem with the government’s vision of celebrating the International Year of Millets (IYOM) and organising several activities in 2023. Jitendra Joshi Chair, FICCI Millet Task Force shares his thoughts with Agrospectrum on the background of the IYOM.

What is the current status of the millet industry in India?

Millets are nutritionally rich, easy to cultivate and sustainable, farmer-friendly crops without any environmental impact.It is high time that we revive the brand of millets and foster resilient food systems. Millet is crucial for food and nutritional security, and promotes  biodiversity while empowering farmers of not just our nation but also of the entire globe.

India is among the top 5 exporters of millet in the world. According to recent data by Trade Map, world export of millet has increased from $400 million in 2020 to $470 million in 2021. India exported millets worth $75.46 million in 2022-23, against $62.95 million in 2021-22.

Millets are the pearls of India and the United Nations celebrating 2023 as the International Year of the Millets (IYOM) is a great step towards making a sustainable Indian product as a lifestyle product on a global platform.

In the past few years and more so in 2023, there has been an increased focus on Millets from many startups, large food corporations and other stakeholders in the food chain to bring innovation to this sector with the latest technologies, recipes and products for domestic and international consumers. Proactive efforts of the government in celebrating IYOM-2023 has supported all these endeavours of different stakeholders to make Millets a really happening industry.

Do you think the millet industry in India is facing any challenges?

Millets can be grown with the least resources, are climate-resilient crops and given the advantages, farmers are preferring to grow millets. The acreage and output have increased as a result of the adoption of high-yielding hybrid varieties and improved production techniques.

As for challenges, farmers are often unaware of the nutritional benefits and potential market demand for millets, which can deter them from cultivating these crops. Consumers may not be familiar with millets or their uses in daily diet, making it challenging to increase millet consumption. Farmers may face challenges in accessing markets and connecting with buyers, resulting in limited opportunities to sell their millet produce. Millet-based products often have shorter shelf lives compared to refined grains like rice or wheat, limiting their marketability. Research and innovation are needed to develop value-added millet products that meet consumer preferences and demands.

Insufficient processing and storage infrastructure for millets can hinder their efficient handling and distribution, impacting the overall supply chain. Investors may not be fully aware of the economic potential of millet-related ventures, leading to a lack of investments in the sector. The absence of suitable processing equipment for different types of millets can result in inefficiencies and higher processing costs.

Research should focus on developing millet varieties with specific attributes, such as longer shelf life or better baking qualities, to meet consumer demands. Collaborating with culinary experts can help create appealing millet recipes and products that cater to diverse consumer preferences, increasing millet adoption. Establishing quality testing labs is essential to ensure that millet grains meet quality standards, build consumer trust, and enable compliance with regulations.

Addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts from farmers, government agencies, research institutions, investors, and the private sector to unlock the full potential of millets in agriculture and nutrition.

How is Corteva contributing to the growth of the millet industry?

Corteva hybrid millet seeds result in a 15 per cent -20 per cent higher yield and provide disease resistance and early maturity hence high stress tolerance.

These high-quality seeds assist in lowering disease pressure, resulting in increased productivity and farmers have easier access to early matured seed hybrids.

The synchronisation of the millets value chain is a critical requirement for scaling millets. Moreover, collaborative participation from all the stakeholders, starting from seed companies to farmers and chefs to markets and finally the consumers themselves.

With the government propagating millet cultivation and increasing demand, it is important to note that especially for minor millets, mostly smallholders and women farmers are involved, thereby leading to a need for skilling and capacity building.

One key issue for the industry is getting consistent quality in supplies as raw material, as farm sizes are small and most of the time, aggregation is done at the village level. This also makes the use of traceability technologies tougher.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

Jitendra Joshi Chair, FICCI Millet Task Force