MOA PIN01 Millets Booklet Final 24 Nov 2023

Presidency Information Note
01
Embracing Millets: The Key to Enhancing

Food Security and Nutrition
Millets and Other Ancient Grains
International Research Initiative
Agriculture Working Group

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Government of India
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
Table of Contents
Foreword 3
Message by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare 5
Part A: Understanding the Potential of Millets
1 Millets: The Future of the World’s Food Security 7
2 Why Millets Need the World’s Attention 8
2.1. Millets are climate resilient
2.2. Millets contribute to healthy and nutritious diet
2.3. Millets offer livelihood opportunities for small and marginalised farmers
3 Global Trends in Millets 10
3.1. Area
3.2. Production
3.3. Productivity
3.4. Trade
4 Characteristics of Millets and Other Ancient Grains 13
4.1. Major Millets
4.2. Minor Millets
4.3. Other Ancient Grains
5 Value Added Products of Millets 24
6 Intensifying Research Efforts: Leveraging the G20 Strength 25
7 Appendix
27
Part B: From Farm to Plate–India’s success stories across the millet value chain
1 Nekram Sharma, a Seed Conservationist, Inspires a Movement for Millets in Himachal Pradesh
29
2 Community-led Seed Initiatives at the Heart of Small Millet Revival in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
32
3 Preservation of Ram-mol, a Local Millet-based Mixed Cropping System in Rainfed Regions of
Kachchh, Gujarat
34
4 Self-Help Group Graduates from a Seed Bank to a Thriving Millet Processing Enterprise
in Karnataka
36
5 A Women-led Farmer Producer Company in Odisha Breaks Millet Procurement Records
38
6 Dibyajyoti SHG’s Journey to Creating a Millet MSME in Rourkela, Odisha
40
7 A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership to Mainstream Millets as Nutritious Snacks for Children Under
ICDS in Odisha
43
8 Integration of Millets with ICDS Hot-Cooked Meals in Aspirational Districts of Telangana
45
9 Taru Naturals, a Responsible Enterprise Taking Millets from Farms to Fine-dining
47
10 Slurrp Farm, a Successful Brand Story of Delicious, Healthy Millet-based Food Products for
Children and (Now) Adults
49
11 IIMR - Accelerating Success of Millet-based Enterprises Through Research and Incubation
51
Authors & Acknowledgements
53
“Millets are not new, they have been
cultivated for thousands of years but
markets and marketing have influenced
our choices so much that we forgot the
value of our traditionally grown food
crops. Let us embrace ‘Shri Anna’
Millets as food of our choice.
Shri Narendra Modi ”

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
1
2
Message
3
4
5
Part A
Understanding the Potential of Millets
6
01 Millets: The Future of the World’s Food Security
Sorghum Plantation
Feeding nearly 10 billion people in a sustainable manner and consumption potential to make the world food supply
by 2050, all while safeguarding our environment and more resilient, stable, and nutritious.
enhancing the ability of agrifood systems to withstand
unforeseen disruptions and uncertainties, presents an Millets are amongst the many nutrient dense and climate
unparalleled task. A FAO report prior to the COVID-19 resilient crops that are native to G20 countries and could
pandemic projected that by 2050, agriculture would have to be a potential game changer for global food systems. Such
increase its production of food, fibre, and biofuel by nearly crops could be promoted by each country to ensure greater
50% compared to 2012 levels to meet the rising demand diversity of food supplies and reduce vulnerability to global
attributed to population and income growth1. shocks. Millets are exceptionally well-suited to dry climatic
conditions and multiple cropping systems of India and
Over the course of future decades, climate change will have semi-arid regions of Asian and African nations. To harness
significant implications for agriculture and food security. By the potential of millets as a “super-food crop of the future”,
the middle of this century, higher average temperatures, better awareness on the demand side and development of
changes in precipitation, rising sea levels, an increase in vibrant value chains on the supply side is imperative.
the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are
expected to affect crop and livestock production. Arid and The Government of India had proposed to the United
semi-arid regions will be exposed to even lower precipitation Nations for declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets.
and higher temperatures, consequently experiencing This proposal of India was supported by 72 countries and
significant yield losses. For developing countries, climate United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as
change could exacerbate the food security challenges they International Year of Millets (IYoM-2023).
already experience.2
While focusing on few high-yielding input intensive crops Did You Know
has increased the total food production and contributed
to reducing food insecurity, it has also resulted in crop Millets may have been among the first
concentration. Rice, maize and wheat provide 60% of the cultivated crops that were grown in the
world’s food energy intake.3 Reliance on the “big three”
“Hoe Age” preceding the “Plow Age”.
to feed and nourish over 7.5 billion people on a warming
planet will make large parts of the global population
susceptible to food insecurity. In preparation for the future,
global agriculture systems would need to include crops
that are currently underutilised but have high production
1
FAO. 2017. The future of food and agriculture – Trends and challenges. Rome. www.fao.org/3/i6583e/i6583e.pdf
2
FAO. 2018. The future of food and agriculture – Alternative pathways to 2050. Rome. www.fao.org/3/i8429en/i8429en.pdf
3
Staple Foods: What do people Eat? https://www.fao.org/3/u8480e/u8480e07.htm
7
02 Why Millets Need the World’s Attention
Millets are group of small grained cereal food crops which are highly nutritious. They are rainfed, hardy grains which
have low requirements of water and fertility when compared to other popular cereals.
2.1. Millets are climate resilient

Millets are adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions and demonstrate both tolerance and resistance to
environmental stress. They are characterised by better growth and productivity under low nutrient and input conditions,
need less irrigation, are least vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses, and less reliant on synthetic fertilizers. They are
shorter in duration vis-à-vis core cereal crops. Key climate resilient traits of millet crops are summarised below:
Climate Resilient Traits of Important Millets
Sorghum Proso Millet

Duration: 100–125 days Duration: 60–90 days
Drought tolerant, adaptive Short duration crop, adaptable
to soils, altitudes and to high altitude, low rainfall
temperatures, excellent conditions
recovery mechanism
Pearl Millet Little Millet

Adaptable in hot and drought Famine food, adaptable to poor
conditions, can be cultivated in soils, low rainfall, and can also
poor soils, responsive to input withstand waterlogging to an
management extent
Finger Millet Kodo Millet

Adaptable across wide altitude Very hardy crop with long
range, moderately resistant to duration, adaptable to low rainfall
drought, heat and humidity and poor soils, responsive to
improved agronomic practices
Foxtail Millet Barnyard Millet

Adaptable to high altitude and Short duration crop, adaptable
low rainfall conditions to high altitudes and low
rainfall conditions
Source: KSDA, ICAR-IIMR. 2018. The Story of Millets. Karnataka State Department of Agriculture in association with ICAR-Indian Institute
of Millets Research.
8
2.2. Millets contribute to healthy and
nutritious diet
Millets thrive in challenging conditions, are nutrient- Did You Know
rich, and can be superior to commonly grown cereals.
They contain protein similar to wheat, along with Average glycemic index of millet is about
various vitamins and minerals1. Millets provide critical 52.7 - lower than that of maize, refined
supplementation to carbohydrate-rich diets with wheat flour and rice. Millets are good for
micronutrients to help combat malnutrition. They are people who are gluten-intolerant2.
rich reservoirs of dietary fibres, and phytochemicals
of diverse therapeutic uses. The biochemical profile of
millet grains is comparable to major cereals (Appendix).
2.3. Millets offer livelihood

opportunities for small-scale and Did You Know
marginalised farmers The wide variety of millets ensure
Millets have considerable potential to generate greater biodiversity on-farm, reduces
livelihoods, increase farmers’ income and ensure food pests and climate risks, improving
and nutritional security. The comparatively low input farmers’ overall resilience.
requirements of millet cultivation offer a key advantage
to small-scale farmers, who often lack access to
extensive irrigation systems and expensive agricultural
inputs. Since millets can flourish in nutrient-deprived
soil and under restricted irrigation, farmers have the
potential to lower their production expenses while
maximising their profits. By incorporating millets into
their cropping systems, small-scale farmers can also
build climate resilience, safeguarding their livelihoods
against the uncertainties posed by climate change.
Millets also present a diverse range of market

opportunities for small-holder farmers. The past
decade has witnessed an increasing global demand
for gluten-free and nutritious foods. Millets, with their
nutrient-rich and gluten-free profile, align well with this
emerging market trend for products with a millet flour
base. This opens up new avenues for small-scale farmers
to diversify their income streams by participating in
value-added activities such as processing, packaging,
and marketing of millet-based products. By promoting
millet cultivation and facilitating access to markets,
policymakers and agricultural organisations can
empower small-scale farmers, enhance food security,
and foster rural development.
1
Li, X and Siddique, KHM. 2018. Future smart food-rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and underutilised species for Zero Hunger in
Asia. FAO, Bangkok. 242 pp.
2
Rao Dayakar, B; Bhaskarachary, K; Christina, GDA; Devi Sudha, G and Tonapi, VA. 2017. Nutritional and health benefits of millets.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, pp. 23-54.
9
03 Global Trends in Millets
Area
Millets (excluding sorghum) are grown on approximately 34.1 million hectares globally, and they are predominantly
consumed in the regions where they are cultivated. Remarkably, 97% of millet cultivation is carried out by developing
nations, notably by resource-poor and marginal farmers. Among the 93 countries worldwide that cultivate millets,
seven nations stand out with over 1 million hectares of harvested area each. Furthermore, around 25 countries report
cultivated areas exceeding 0.1 million hectares.
Top Seven Millet (excluding sorghum) Producing Countries in the World
Millets* Area, Production and Productivity across the Globe in 2021
Area Production Yield

Regions (million ha) (million tonnes) (tonnes/ha)
Africa 46.7 38.4 0.8
Americas 6.6 24.0 3.6

Asia 17.3 25.7 1.5
Europe 0.7 1.7 2.7
Oceania 0.6 1.7 2.8
World 71.9 91.5 1.3
Note: *includes Sorghum

Source: FAOSTAT. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL (accessed on 9 Sept. 2023)
10
Production
In 2021, Africa had 65% of the world’s total millet (including sorghum) cultivated area. However, Africa’s share
in global production was only 42% due to a relatively low average yield of 0.8 tonnes per hectare, reflecting the
challenges faced by resource-poor and marginal farmers in the region. In contrast, the Americas, with only 9% of
the global cultivation area, contributed 26% to the world’s millet and sorghum production, primarily from sorghum
cultivation. In Asia, production exceeded that of the Americas by approximately 1.7 million tonnes, with 70% of the
output originating from India.
Millet Production (in million tonnes), 2018–2021
18.02
Productivity
The trends in productivity vary significantly across different regions. In Africa, there has been stagnation in yield
even after six decades. In contrast, all other regions have experienced an increase in productivity, particularly since
1991. However, in the Americas, the yield gains were more pronounced during the period from 1961 to 1991 than in
the last three decades. These differences in yield across regions, especially in Asia, can be attributed to the different
types of millets grown here compared to other regions where sorghum production is more dominant.
Changes in the Productivity of Millets in the World
4.0
3.6
3.5 3.2
3.0 2.7 2.8
Yield in tonne/ha
2.4
2.5
1.9
2.0
1.5 1.5
1.5 1.3
1.0
1.0 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.7
0.7 0.7
0.6
0.5
0.0
Africa America
AmericaA Asia
siaE Europe
uropeO Oceania
ceania World
World
1961 1991 2021
11
Trade
Global sorghum and millet production and trade is small, and production varies greatly between countries and over
the years. Sorghum and millet exports from G20 countries amounted to USD 1.76 billion in 2020. In contrast, wheat
exports from G20 countries amounted to just under USD 40 billion in 2020.
With the increasing international appetite for millets, the millet trade is poised for significant growth in the coming
years. To tap this latent global millet demand, the Indian Government is proactively encouraging millet exports. One
notable initiative in this regard is a series of programmes designed by the Agriculture and Processed Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA) to promote millets and millet-based products in various countries, including the UAE,
Indonesia, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and more.
Sorghum, Millets and Wheat Trade for G20 Countries, 2005-2020
35,00,000 5,00,00,000
4,50,00,000
4,00,00,000
25,00,000
US Dollars
US Dollars
3,50,00,000
3,00,00,000
20,00,000
2,50,00,000
2,00,00,000
10,00,000
1,50,00,000
1,00,00,000
50,00,000
-
Sorghum Millets Wheat (Secondary Axis)
Source: FAOSTAT. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL (accessed on 6 Feb. 2023)
12
04 Characteristics of Millets and Other Ancient Grains
Millet Growing Regions in India
Jammu and Kashmir
Arunachal
Punjab Himachal Pradesh Pradesh
Uttarakhand
Sikkim
Haryana
Uttar Pradesh
Assam
Rajasthan
Bihar
Nagaland
Meghalaya
Tripura
Jharkhand
West Bengal
Chhattisgarh
Gujarat
Odisha
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Legend
Pearl Millet Sorghum Barnyard Millet

Kerala
Foxtail Millet Proso Millet Browntop Millet
Little Millet Finger Millet Kodo Millet
Sources:
KSDA, ICAR-IIMR. 2018. The Story of Millets. Karnataka State Department of Agriculture in association with ICAR-Indian Institute of
Millets Research.
APEDA. Millet Portal. Agricultural and Processed Products Export Development Authority, Govt. of India. https://apeda.gov.in/milletportal/
(accessed on 6th September 2023)
13
Major Millets*
Sorghum
Sorghum is the most widely grown crop among millets,
as a main staple crop by marginalised farmers across
the semi-arid tropics. It is used for a variety of purposes
including food, feed, fodder, and biofuel.
Origin and distribution:

Sorghum, originated in northeastern Africa, was first
domesticated around 5,000–8,000 years ago. This
region of Africa boasts the most diverse array of both
cultivated and wild sorghum varieties. The crop also has
a historical presence in the Indian Subcontinent, with
evidence of early cereal cultivation dating back 4,500
years. The primary regions for sorghum cultivation are
Africa, followed by Asia and the Americas.
Nutritional and health importance:

Area and production in India:
Sorghum grains contain a varying energy value between
296.1 to 356.0 kcal per 100 grams, and they primarily Sorghum is cultivated in 3.7 million hectares
consist of polysaccharides, such as starch and non-starch producing 4.0 million tonnes at an average
components, proteins, and lipids, while wheat and maize productivity around 1.1 tonnes per hectare.
are also common grains.
Pearl Millet
Pearl millet, is the sixth most important cereal crop in
terms of area and production in the world. It is typically
cultivated for food consumption in Asia and Africa, but it
serves primarily as livestock fodder in the Americas.

Pearl millet was first domesticated approximately in
4500 BC in the northern-central Sahelian region of Africa.
Today, it remains a prominent cereal crop in West Africa
and is cultivated extensively in eastern and southern
Africa, as well as in semi-arid to arid regions of India. It is
mostly grown on marginal lands with an annual average
rainfall of 250 mm. Even in areas of severe drought, it
can produce large quantity of grains.
Pearl millet contains a range of free lipids between 5.6% Area and production in India:
and 7.1%, along with bound lipids ranging from 0.6% to
0.9%. The significant presence of phospholipids, including Pearl millet is grown about 7.5 million
lecithins and cephalins, provides numerous health hectare with current grain production of 11.2
benefits. These compounds play a vital role in overall million tonnes and productivity of 1.5 tonnes
metabolism, contributing to brain function, managing per hectare.
behavioral disorders, and alleviating stress. They also
aid in membrane regeneration and provide protection
to vital organs such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, and
gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, these compounds are
recognised for their ability to improve the bioavailability
of other nutrients and medications.
14
Finger Millet
Finger millet is widely cultivated in Africa and Asia as
a staple food grain. This millet gets its name due to its
“finger-like” panicle branching.

The domestication of finger millet occured around 5,000
years ago in Western Uganda and Ethiopian highlands. It
was introduced in India more than 4,000 years ago. Finger
millet, predominantly produced in Asian and African
nations, notably led by India, is extensively cultivated
across regions spanning from eastern and central Africa
to Sri Lanka, stretching eastwards through the Himalayas
into Southeast Asia’s hills, including Taiwan, and reaching
parts of Indonesia and Guam.

Finger millet is considered highly nutritious as it provides
substantial quantities of proteins, minerals, calcium, and Finger millet is cultivated in an area of 1.1
vitamins. Products made out of finger millet are beneficial million hectares with a production of 1.6
for the growth of bone mass in growing children, as well million tonnes giving an average productivity
as for the prevention of osteoporosis and other bone of 1.5 tonnes per hectare.
disorders in adults, specially the elderly. The germinated
seeds help in improvement of haemoglobin level in
infants. The seed can be used to treat fever, biliousness,
and hepatitis. The seed coat of the finger millet has anti-
ulcerative properties and can help lower blood sugar
level, manage diabetes and cholesterol.
Mineral Composition of Major Millets (in mg/100g)
Millet Iron Calcium Zinc Phosphorus Magnesium

Sorghum 3.9 27.6 1.9 274 133
Pearl Millet 6.4 27.4 2.8 289 124

Finger Millet 4.6 364 2.5 210 146
Source: DoA&FW. 2023. Brief notes on millets. Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
India. 20 pp.
*The information has been compiled from

Sources:
Kumar, A; Tripathi, MK; Joshi, D and Kumar, V. (Eds.). 2021. Millets and millet technology. Springer, Singapore. 438 pp.
KSDA, ICAR-IIMR. 2018. The story of millets. Karnataka State Department of Agriculture in association with ICAR Indian Institute of Millets
Research.
UPAg. Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics. Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Govt. of India. https://upag.gov.in/
(accessed on 9 Sept. 2023)
15
Minor Millets**
Foxtail Millet
Among other millets, foxtail millets are the third largest
millets which is mainly grown for food in the semi-arid
tropic region of Asia and as forage crop in Europe, North
America, Australia, and North Africa.
Origin and distribution: Nutritional and health importance:

One of the oldest cultivated millet crops is foxtail millet. Foxtail millet is rich in Vitamin B12, which is essential
In global millet production, it comes second after pearl for maintaining a healthy heart, smooth functioning
millet. The cultivated form of Setaria italica is its wild of the nervous system, and in general good for skin
ancestor S. viridis. and hair growth. Foxtail millet’s nutritious content
has made it a vital ingredient in Chinese noodle
The most primitive archeological remnants of foxtail preparation, nourishing gruel or soup, manufacturing
millet have been discovered in the ruins of Cishan and alcoholic beverages, cereal porridges, and pancakes.
Peiligang in Northern China’s Yellow River Valley, almost Foxtail millet grain is typically cooked whole like rice
7,400 and 7,935 years ago, respectively. Its domestication (millet rice) or ground into a meal. After the dehulled
may have taken place anywhere in the area that stretches grain is milled into flour, it is consumed in India as a stiff
from Europe to Japan. porridge known as sargati or as leavened bread known
as roti. It is also possible to sprout the seed until it is
ready to use, which makes it sweeter.
Proso Millet
Proso millet is the third most important millet crop
cultivated after pearl millet and foxtail millet and is
highly tolerant to heat and drought. Proso millet with
low moisture requirements, is a relatively short-term
emergency or fast-season irrigated crop.

Proso millet domestication started in beginning of the
Holocene when global temperatures were warmer and
new plants and habitats were introduced to hunter-
gatherers. It might have originated from Panicum
psilopodium, which is found in its wild state in Myanmar,
India and Malaysia. Historically this millet has been grown
in Russia, China, the Balkans countries and Northern
India. Major countries of its production are Russia, China,
USA, Ukraine, South Korea, Kazakhstan, France, Poland,
Belarus, India, Iran, Nepal, Western Myanmar, Sri Lanka,
Pakistan and Australia.

The intake of proso millet is associated with a decreased
risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus because whole grains are
a rich source of magnesium. People with atherosclerosis
Area and production in India: and heart disease benefit from the magnesium content
of proso millet as it can reduce the frequency of migraine
Proso millet is cultivated in an area of 0.04 headaches and heart attacks. It also lowers blood
million hectare with total production of about pressure and supplies sufficient amounts of zinc, vitamin
0.02 million tonnes and productivity of 0.5 B6, and iron for daily needs.
tonnes per hectare.
16
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard millet is a multipurpose crop grown for grain
and fodder. It is the oldest domesticated small millet.
Barnyard millet has two main species, one is Echinochloa
esculenta which is Japanese Barnyard millet or Japanese
millet and the other is Echinochloa frumentacea that
is Indian Barnyard millet. Barnyard millet is adapted to
temperate climatic regions as well as tropics. It is grown
in shallow soils with low moisture holding capacity.
Did You Know

The Indian barnyard millet is also known
as “Billion Dollar Grass”.
Origin and distribution: Nutritional and health importance:

Indian barnyard millet, is one of the oldest crops to be The germinated seeds of barnyard millet possess qualities
have been cultivated since around 5000 BC in India and such as astringency, acidity, soothing properties, and the
3000 BC in China. This millet species, which originated ability to aid digestion. Barnyard millet is employed in
from wild Jungle rice, shares a similar evolutionary path managing conditions like abdominal dyspepsia, this millet
in both India and Africa. In various regions like Central is the richest source of iron among other millets digestive
Africa, India, China, Malawi, Nepal, and Tanzania, E. issues, and nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, the pale
frumentacea has four distinct races characterised by seeds of barnyard millet have a cooling effect and are
differences in inflorescence morphology, and they are utilised in the treatment of cholera and fever.
extensively grown.

Barnyard millet is cultivated over an area of 0.1
million hectare with total production of about
0.07 million tonnes with productivity of 0.7
tonnes per hectare.
Little Millet
Little millet is another type of millet which is almost
similar to proso millet except for the fact that the grains
are small. This millet is native to India and is also known
as Indian millets.

The species was named after a specimen obtained in
Sumatra, Indonesia. It is primarily grown in India, China,
eastern Asia, and Malaysia. Little millet grows well in
both tropical and temperate settings. Currently, the
crop is nearly exclusively grown in mountainous areas of
India. It is a significant catch crop grown by Indian tribals.
17
Little millet is a good food alternative for diabetic Did You Know
individuals and individuals suffering from cardio-vascular
disorder as it helps to maintain blood glucose response. Little millet grows well in both tropical
Little millet is also a good source of nutraceuticals like and temperate settings. Currently,
phenolics, butyric gamma-amino acid (GABA), lignans, the crop is nearly exclusively grown in
starch resistant, sterols, and phytats. mountainous areas of India.
Several common small millet meals are created with
popped flour, sugar or jaggery or ghee and salt. In many
rural households in India, little millet is used to make a
wide range of traditional foods such as bhat, kheer, dosa,
upma, paddu, masala idli, and halwa.
Kodo Millet
Kodo millets are mostly drought tolerant cereals and can
be grown easily in areas with scanty and erratic rainfall.
Kodo millet is extensively grown in poor soil conditions
like stony or gravely soils which in general is not good for
growing any crops.

Native to tropical Africa, this cereal is thought to have
domesticated in India around 3,000 years ago. Cow
grass, rice grass, ditch millet, Native Paspalum, or Indian
crown grass are also known as kodo millet. It is grown
in India, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and
West African countries.

The grains of Kodo millet contains 8.3% protein, 1.4%
fat and 2.9% ash. The dietary fibre content is very high.
Kodo’s anti-oxidant potential is also higher than other
major cereals and millets. Water soluble fibre in kodo can
be used to maintain or lower the blood glucose response
in diabetic patients and people suffering from cardio-
vascular problems. Kodo millet has a low glycemic index
which makes it suitable for diabetic patients.
18
Browntop Millet
Browntop millet is another type of millet with limited
cultivation that is largely confined to Southern India. Its
wild or domestic varieties are sometimes found within
the same field. It is both used as food and fodder crop.
Browntop millet is drought-resistant and heat tolerant but
also can be grown in low flooding areas. The browntop
millet seed is cultivated in a number of soils and climates.
Its hardy nature makes it well suited for dry lands.

Brown top millet was domesticated in South Asia during
the 3000 BC, and by the end of the second millennium
BC it spread out from the Deccan to Tamil Nadu in the
south and Gujarat in the north. This minor millet was
introduced in the USA from India around 1915.

Browntop millet is nutritional rich and has high energy
content. With a high fibre content of 12.5%, it can be
used to alleviate ailments caused by sedentary lifestyles.
Its consumption can reduce diabetes and duodenal
ulcers. It is regarded as a remedy for common health
problems like arthritis, and heart disease.
Mineral Composition of Minor Millets (in mg/100g)
Millet Iron Calcium Zinc Phosphorus Magnesium

Proso Millet 2 30 1.4 - 153
Foxtail Millet 2.8 31 2.4 290 81

Barnyard Millet 5 20 3.3 280 82
Little Millet 1.3 16.1 1.8 130 91
Kodo Millet 2.3 15.3 1.6 101 122
Browntop Millet 0.7 0.01 - - -
India. 20 pp.
**The information has been compiled from -

Sources:
Kumar, A; Tripathi, MK; Joshi, D and Kumar, V. (Eds.). 2021. Millets and millet technology. Springer, Singapore. p 438.
KSDA, ICAR-IIMR. 2018. The story of millets. Karnataka State Department of Agriculture in association with ICAR Indian Institute of
Millets Research.
19
Other Ancient Grains
Barley
Barley possesses extraordinary resilience that
distinguishes it from fellow cereal crops such as
wheat, rice, and maize. It possesses a superior ability
to endure infertile soil, salt, and drought, affording it
the capacity to acclimate to various ecosystems and
prosper worldwide. Exhibiting remarkable adaptability,
barley excels even in challenging settings, including
cold climates, drought-prone regions, and soils with low
fertility, thus establishing itself as a hardier crop when
compared to wheat under adverse growth conditions.

Barley, a significant cereal grain, holds a storied heritage
spanning millennia and tracing back to our ancient
forebears. Notably, Europe takes the lead, contributing
approximately 68% of the global barley production, while
Asia and the USA follow with 15% and 13%, respectively1.

Barley, a versatile cereal grain, finds its versatile Furthermore, barley emerges as a rich source of B
application in a wide array of culinary creations, vitamins, encompassing niacin, thiamin, and pyridoxine
including bread, beverages, stews, and an assortment (vitamin B-6). Additionally, it contains beta-glucans,
of dishes. As a whole grain, barley stands as a bountiful a specific type of dietary fibre linked to an array of
reservoir of dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals. These health benefits. The table below provides an in-depth
vital nutrients not only contribute to heart health but breakdown of barley’s nutrient content:
also hold potential in cancer prevention, reducing
inflammation, and various other health advantages.
Nutritional and Mineral Composition of Barley
Nutrient Hulled Barley Pearl Barley

Calcium (mg) 33 29
Iron (mg) 3.6 2.5

Magnesium (mg) 133 79
Phosphorus (mg) 264 221
Potassium (mg) 452 280
Sodium (mg) 12 9
Manganese (mg) 1.9 1.32
Selenium (mcg) 37.7 37.7
Folate (mcg) 19 23
Source: USDA. Food Data Central. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-

details/1580033/nutrients (accessed on 10 Aug. 2023)
1
FAOSTAT. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL (accessed on 9 Sept. 2023)
20
Farro
Farro, encompassing hulled wheats such as einkorn,
emmer, and spelt, holds a historical significance as one
of the oldest cereal crops in the Mediterranean region.
While it experienced a period of decline in usage, Farro is
currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. The industrial
sector has recognised the value of Farro in the production
of pasta, biscuits, and various other food products.
It serve as a dietary staple for ancient civilisations such as
the Assyrians, Egyptians, and diverse communities in the
Middle East and North Africa. With a substantial supply
and a growing demand for plant-based foods, Europe has
emerged as the dominant force in the global farro market.

Recent studies suggest that the origin of Farro can be
traced to Palestine, where it continues to thrive as a wild
species known as Triticum Dicoccoides.

The farro grains are generally rich in vitamins (vitamin also higher in B-complex vitamins, and both simple and
B3), minerals (zinc, magnesium, and iron), and complex carbohydrates. Another important benefit is
antioxidants. The grain is naturally high in fibre and that some gluten-sensitive people have been able to
contains significantly more protein than wheat. Farro is include farro-based foods in their diets2.
Teff
Teff, originating from Ethiopia, stands out as a remarkably
nutritious and gluten-free staple food renowned for
its versatility and distinctive flavor. Its remarkable
adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions has
facilitated its widespread cultivation. With the growing
prevalence of gluten-related disorders in Western
markets, the demand for teff has surged significantly.

Teff, a gluten-free grain, is a nutritional powerhouse,
particularly well-suited for individuals with celiac
disease. It distinguishes itself among cereals by boasting
higher levels of minerals and amino acids3. Additionally,
it is rich in essential fatty acids, dietary fibre, minerals,
and phytochemicals, all of which contribute to various
health benefits. These benefits encompass preventing
anemia during pregnancy and assisting in the prevention
and management of conditions such as celiac disease,
diabetes, and anemia.
2
Buerli, M. 2007. Farro in Italy. Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/104070/
Farro_in_Italy_1266.pdf?sequen
3
Zhu, F. 2018. Chemical composition and food uses of teff (Eragrostis tef). Food Chemistry, 239: 402-415.
21
Nutritional and Mineral Composition of Teff3
Nutrient Value per 100g

Calcium (mg) 180
Iron (mg) 7.63
Magnesium (mg) 184
Phosphorus (mg) 429
Potassium (mg) 427

Sodium (mg) 12
Zinc (mg) 3.63
Source: USDA. Food Data Central. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169747/nutrients (accessed on 9 Sept.

2023)
Quinoa
Quinoa presents a valuable solution for nations
grappling with the challenge of hidden hunger.

Originating in the Andean region of South America,
quinoa has served as a staple crop for countless
generations.
Originally cultivated for centuries in Peru and Bolivia,

quinoa’s primary production hubs, it has now spread
to numerous countries worldwide, including the United
States, Canada, Italy, Sweden, and India4.

Quinoa’s exceptional nutritional profile arises
from its well-balanced composition, featuring
significant protein content, a wide range of amino
acids, essential minerals, dietary fibres, as well as
valuable minor components such as antioxidants and
vitamins5. Furthermore, its gluten-free characteristic
renders quinoa an excellent option for individuals
managing celiac disease or gluten-related disorders.
Quinoa is recognised as a valuable reservoir of various

micronutrients, including zinc, magnesium, folate, and
iron. Its potential for sustaining long-duration human-
occupied space flights is evident in its selection as an
experimental crop within NASA’s Controlled Ecological
Life Support System.
4
Angeli, V; Silva MP; Massuela, CD; Khan, MW; Hamar, A; Khajehei, F; Hönninger,GS and Piatti, C. 2020. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa
Willd.): An overview of the potentials of the “golden grain” and socio-economic and environmental aspects of its cultivation and
marketisation. Foods, 9(2) 216.
5
Vidueiros, SM; Curti, RN; Dyner, LM; Binaghi, MJ; Peterson, G; Bertero, HD and Pallaro, AN. 2015. Diversity and interrelationships in
nutritional traits in cultivated quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) from Northwest Argentina. Journal of Cereal Science, 62: 87-93.
22
Nutritional and Mineral Composition of Quinoa7
Nutrient Composition (mg/100g)

Calcium (mg) 148.7
Iron (mg) 13.2

Zinc (mg) 4.4
Magnesium (mg) 249.6
Potassium (mg) 926.7
Phosphorus (mg) 383.7
Source: Gálvez, VA; Miranda, M; Vergara, J; Uribe, E; Puente, L and Martínez, EA.
2010. Nutrition facts and functional potential of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.),
an ancient Andean grain: a review. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture,
90(15): 2541-2547.
23
05 Value Added Products of Millets
...and many more

24
06 Intensifying Research Efforts: Leveraging the
G20 Strength
The research landscape in the field of millets and other and extend shelf life are imperative. Encouraging farmers to
ancient grains has been characterised by significant cultivate millets through incentives is crucial for building a
disparities in terms of investment and human resources sustainable millet value chain.
allocation. While substantial efforts have been directed
towards achieving self-sufficiency in staple cereals In response to contemporary lifestyles and preferences,
like wheat, rice, and maize, millets have received innovations can lead to the creation of a diverse range of
comparatively limited support in terms of infrastructure millet-based food products, catering to traditional and
and workforce development1. modern consumers alike. Promotional campaigns, public
endorsements, and awareness-raising efforts can further
For agriculture as a whole to achieve sustained productivity boost the adoption of millet-based foods.
growth, continuous technological advancements, as well as
social and institutional innovations, are essential. Research Stakeholders involved in millets research and development
and Development (R&D) play a pivotal role in driving such should invest in innovation to improve production, marketing,
productivity growth and are integral to the transition and distribution. Collaborations with governmental and
towards a more sustainable agricultural future. Public R&D non-governmental organisations are critical for success.
initiatives, coupled with supportive policy environments, Initiatives such as the formation of millet-based Farmer
have been instrumental in the development of improved Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, incubation centers,
crop varieties, increased yields, and enhanced production and Nutri-Hubs are crucial steps towards achieving this goal.
for major cereal crops worldwide. The stagnation or slow
productivity growth observed in major millet-producing Governments will continue to play a pivotal role in driving the
regions in Africa and Asia underscores the urgency of development and adoption of new technologies. Through
dedicating greater resources to basic, strategic, and their role in setting incentives, regulations and funding, G20
applied research aimed at enhancing productivity. To governments can influence the global research agenda and
comprehensively understand the role of millets and ancient shape private sector actions.
grains in agricultural and economic development, fostering
collaborative research networks among academic and Building upon the momentum of the International Years of
research institutions is imperative. Millets 2023 and the successful Wheat Initiative, endorsed
by G20 nations in 2011 during France’s presidency, G20
Genetic enhancement of millets is a pressing need, agricultural research scientists launched a dedicated
necessitating the development of new cultivars utilising initiative focused on research and awareness regarding
cutting-edge tools and technologies to ensure high millets and other ancient grains. This initiative, named the
production potential and optimal environmental adaptation, “Millets And OtHer Ancient GRains International ReSearcH
ultimately making millets competitive with other crops. Initiative (MAHARISHI),” was formally agreed upon during
Leveraging the rich genetic diversity available in millets the 12th G20 Meeting of Chief Scientists hosted in Varanasi,
germplasm for traits such as stress tolerance, environmental India. Subsequently, it garnered support from Agriculture
adaptability, and increased yields is vital. The establishment Ministers representing G20 nations and received
of seed hubs is crucial to increase the adoption of new recognition by the Heads of States in the G20 New Delhi
cultivars and elevate the seed replacement rate, thereby Leaders’ Declaration.
enhancing overall productivity.
MAHARISHI serves as a collaborative platform uniting
The labor-intensive nature of millet cultivation and researchers and institutions dedicated to millets and other
processing, particularly in rural areas, poses challenges, underutilised grains worldwide. The primary objective
particularly for women. Developing modern production of this initiative is to nurture the growth of a vibrant
and processing methods and technologies can alleviate global research community committed to advancing the
these challenges, freeing up women’s time for other understanding and cultivation of millets and other ancient
productive activities. grains. This community will facilitate the seamless exchange
of resources, capabilities, data, knowledge, and innovative
To broaden the appeal of millets and encourage consumption, ideas within the research network, all with the shared aim
extending shelf life and developing millet-based health of elevating productivity, quality, and sustainable cultivation
foods are essential. Investments in genetic enhancement practices on a global scale.
to enrich micronutrient content, improve stress tolerance,
1
NAAS. 2022. Promoting millet production, value addition and consumption. Policy Paper No. 114, National Academy of Agricultural
Sciences, New Delhi. 24 pp.
25
G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting
(MACS) Varanasi, India; 17-19 April 2023 Hyderabad, India; 16-17 June 2023
Chair’s Summary and Outcome Document Chair’s Summary and Outcome Document
Para 10 Para 8
G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration

Delhi, India; 09-10 September 2023
Para 26
26
Appendix
Biochemical Composition of Foodgrains
Crops Scientific Name Carbohydrates Proteins Fat Ash Dietary Energy

(%) (%) (%) (%) Fibre (kCal)
Sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) 67.7 9.9 1.7 1.4 10.2 334
Moench
Pearl Millet Pennisetum glaucum (L.) 61.8 10.9 5.4 1.4 11.5 347
R. Br. Syn. Cenchrus
americanus (L.) Morrone
Finger Millet Eleusine coracana (L.) 66.8 7.2 1.9 2.0 11.2 320
Gaertn.
Proso Millet Panicum miliaceum 64.5 11.5 3.5 2.7 9.6 341
Foxtail Millet Setaria italica 60.1 12.3 4.3 2.6 10.7 331
Barnyard Millet Echinochloa 65.5 6.2 2.2 1.3 12.6 307

frumentacea
Little Millet Paspalum 65.5 10.1 3.8 1.3 7.7 346

sumatrense
Kodo Millet Paspalum 66.2 8.9 2.5 1.7 6.4 331

scrobiculatum
Browntop Millet Brachiaria ramosa 61.4 11.5 - - 12.5 -
Rice Oryza sativa 78.2 6.8 0.5 0.6 0.2 345
Wheat Triticum aestivum 71.2 11.8 1.5 1.5 1.2 346
Maize Zea mays L. 62.3 12.1 4.6 1.8 2.3 -
Oats Avena sativa 52.8 17.1 6.4 3.2 11.3 -
India. 20 pp.
27
Part B
From Farm to Plate – India’s success
stories across the millet value chain
28
01 Nekram Sharma, a Seed Conservationist, Inspires a
Movement for Millets in Himachal Pradesh
Nekram Sharma encourages farmers to begin growing millets on small parcels of land as part of a mixed cropping system
Small millet cultivation was once popular in Himachal Sharma began promoting traditional farming practices
Pradesh. Finger millet, proso millet, foxtail millet and such as – Nau-Anaaj – a cropping system of growing 9
kodo millet were historically grown in the state. The crops in each season, which was once prevalent in the
cultivation of millets declined as farmers shifted to region. In this system, millets, pulses, oilseeds and other
monocropping of high-yielding wheat and maize ushered food crops are grown together, providing food security
in by the Green Revolution. The decline in cultivation and improving soil fertility. In the early 2000s, the growing
led to loss of seeds of several varieties. Interestingly, movement to adopt these regenerative, millet-based
cultural practices including folk songs on millets and farming systems was informally called Prakritik Tikau
festival foods have kept some millet traditions alive. Kheti Abhiyaan (Natural sustainable farming campaign).
Pidari – a dish made with finger millet, prepared during
Bashoa (Baisakhi) is one such example. Around this time, Sharma turned his 22 bigha land into a
natural regenerative farm and began cultivating millets,
For over 15 years, a network of community-based alongside other crops. He connected with civil society
organisations, farmer groups, Self Help Groups (SHGs) organisations working on reviving millets in the rest of the
and the Himachal Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture country to adopt best practices in the state. Lack of seed
Network (HimRRA) have been actively mobilising the was one of the challenges for farmers adopting millet-
community to revive millet cultivation, adopt millet- based cropping systems in Himachal. Sharma began
based regenerative farming practices and encourage distributing a ‘fistful’ (ek mutthi) of seed to farmers, with
consumption at the household level. A key figure leading the promise that they would return double the amount
this movement is Nekram Sharma from Mandi district. to the seed bank the next year, and distribute to 5 other
farmers in the village.
One farmer’s efforts to save seeds
The hill state has difficult topography and small land
started a movement holdings, which makes large scale production unviable.
Natural farmer and seed conservationist Nekram Sharma He encouraged farmers to start growing millets on small
of Karsog village in Mandi district has made pioneering plots of land, as part of a mixed cropping system. Today,
efforts in preserving indigenous seeds and the food farmers are growing millets, legumes and other crops in
diversity of Himachal Pradesh. Back in the 1990s, he fruit orchards.
participated in local forest conservation efforts and
realised the loss of native seeds and plants, and its A growing number of farmers have formed informal
impact on food diversity. He travelled across the state seed banks and are involved in seed production. Several
visiting homes of elderly farmers in remote villages to farmer groups, SHGs, community-based organisations
collect indigenous seeds of millets, legumes, vegetables and millet entrepreneurs have joined hands to promote
and other crops that were on the verge of being lost. natural farming and millet-based multi-cropping in the
29
state. This community effort got a boost with the State
government’s Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana Key outcomes
(PK3 Yojana) launched in 2018. The natural farming Recognising the synergies between natural
programme sensitised farmers about the adverse effects farming methods and millet-based multi-
of chemical inputs to the ecology and human health. A cropping systems, the state Agriculture
substantial number of Himachal’s farmers are women1. Secretary has asked the department to reach
out to farmers with millet seeds and production
Today, the Himachal Pradesh State Government plans in 2023–24. Currently in the state, 1.6 lakh
recognises Sharma as a key resource person and farmers are practising natural farming on 50,000
technical advisor to provide training and capacity acres of land. The state has set a target to bring
building on the package of practices for millet an additional 30,000 acres of land under natural
farming. He also conducts programmes promoting farming and to convert 11,000 acres (4,500
health and nutritional awareness through millet hectares) for millet cultivation in 2023–242. What
recipes at the state and district level, and at academic started as one individual’s conservation efforts
institutions. Recognising his contribution to natural has now become an ambitious goal for the state.
farming in Himachal Pradesh, he was conferred the
Padma Shri in January this year.
Key learnings
Growing awareness driving a return Developing seed catalogues for the four agro-
climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh by academic
to local millet traditions institutions of the State can give a significant boost
Women SHGs in Himachal have revived traditional millet to millet cultivation in the state. Involving farmers
recipes and created new and contemporary dishes and community seed banks in Participatory Varietal
that are now served at village fairs and food festivals. Selection may help identify the most suited millet
SHG members from Mandi, Kullu, Kangra and Chamba crops for specific regions.
districts share that millet kiosks at community events
such as Kullu Dussehra, Lavi mela at Rampur and Mandi Support to community seed banks at the Gram
Shivratri, have shifted people’s perception of the cereal. Panchayat and cluster level to preserve and propagate
A millet canteen near Civil Hospital Karsog was set up in native and indigenous seeds can be a significant
May 2023. It serves millet tea, dalia, momos, pulao and intervention for millet revival in the state.
biscuits, among other products. The state government
organised a four-day millet food festival in Dharamshala, Appropriate post-harvest processing equipment
Kangra district, in June 2023. The festival provided can be a significant enabler for women farmers: The
farmers and entrepreneurs a forum to display the millet introduction of affordable tools and equipment can
diversity of the hill state. Value-added products such as reduce drudgery involved in post-harvest activities
millet momos, Ragi tea, noodles and pasta, and millet and improve productivity for women millet farmers.
alternatives for traditional dishes and local delicacies
such as Siddu were popular among visitors. Periodic millet festivals featuring culturally relevant
recipes as well as innovative dishes play an important
role in engaging consumer interest in millets3.
SHG members participating in the Millet Food Festival, at Dharamshala

in June 2023
1
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/himachals-women-farmers-are-expanding-their-horizons-naturally/
article37141852.ece
2
http://himachalpr.gov.in/PressReleaseByYear.aspx?Language=1&ID=27486&Type=2&Date=04/06/2023
3
This case study has been prepared with inputs provided by Nekram Sharma, State and district offices of the Department of Agriculture,
Himachal Pradesh, natural farmers and SHG members.
30
On his farm, Nekram Sharma follows the practice of Nau Anaj multi-cropping system
“ Himachal had a rich tradition of small millets. Millet-

based multi-cropping offers farmers an opportunity
“ Under the state government’s flagship programme
Him Unnati we have taken a cluster-level approach
to diversify incomes. Bringing millets back on our to help farmers adopt millet cultivation. Eighteen
plates will improve diet diversity and nutrition millet-based clusters have been formed in Kangra.
indicators of the community. To promote millet Bajra as fodder is cultivated on 1,100 hectares in
production, Himachal farmers need good seeds, and the district, this year we have added an additional
village and household level processing technology. 350 hectares of small millet cultivation. Seeds were
It will go a long way in incentivising farmers, collected from elderly farmers from ‘millet pockets’
especially women farmers who do the tedious tasks in remote regions of the district. We are trying
in agriculture – to grow more millets. market-led interventions. Events like the Millet
”
Food Festival that our department organised in
Nekram Sharma
Millet farmer and seed conservationist
Dharamshala have created awareness and curiosity
Mandi, Himachal Pradesh about millets among people.
”
Rahul Katoch
Deputy director,
Agriculture Dept, Kangra
1990s 2000s 2018–23 May 2023

Nekram Sharma Prakritik Tikau Kheti Sharma conducted The State Government
began conserving Abhiyaan, an informal, training on natural launched Him Unnati
indigenous seeds community movement farming including millet- for convergence of
for millets, legumes, towards sustainable, based multi-cropping on agriculture-related
vegetables and millet-based farming the invitation of State schemes to develop
other native crops systems took shape and District government clusters for millets,
bodies fruits, vegetables, dairy
production for targeted
agricultural growth
Sharma conferred
Sharma turned his The State Government the Padma Shri for
22 bigha landholding launched the Prakritik his contribution to
into a natural, Kheti Khushhal Kissan natural regenerative
regenerative farm Yojana to promote farming and saving
and practised millet- natural regenerative indigenous seeds of
based multi-cropping farming in the state Himachal Pradesh
Early 2000s 2018 Jan 2023
31
02 Community-led Seed Initiatives at the Heart of Small
Millet Revival in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
For tribal communities and small farmers of Mandla along with the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya,
district in eastern Madhya Pradesh, small millets like Raipur, and the Indian Institute of Millets Research
kodo and kutki had been an integral part of their rainfed (IIMR) then provided the most proximate new varieties
cropping systems and cultural heritage. These small for a phased trial and testing.
millets thrived in the semi-arid soil and undulating, rocky
landscape of the region prior to the Green Revolution. Demonstrating yields to farmers to
Since the 1970s, the advent of input intensive agriculture,
enabled by programmes for soil improvement, land encourage adoption
levelling and watershed management paved the way Developed in a similar agro-climatic zone, 5 newer
for widespread paddy, maize, and wheat cultivation, varieties of small millets have seen significant success
and fundamentally altered the conditions under which in yield. Predictably, it has been difficult to convince
small millet cultivation took place. In the last decade, farmers to diversify away from indigenous small millet
Madhya Pradesh has nearly tripled its wheat production. seed varieties. However, an evidence-based approach
Availability of paddy and wheat in the Public Distribution and small-scale testing is mitigating fears around risk.
System has also altered consumption patterns over The first trials are done only on 1/10th of a farmer’s plot,
decades, impacting awareness among communities and increase in yield has been consistent due to higher
about the nutritional value of millets. Meanwhile, the area germination rates of university-developed varieties.
under millet cultivation had been on a steady decline. Training from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, in Dindori equips
farmers with the technical know-how. An endline survey
in 2020 showed that production of kodo and kutki had
surged by 20% over a period of five years in the 35 villages
of Mandla where the intervention has been intensive.
Gond farmers Ratan Singh Marko and Shiv Prashad

Kushram shared that diversifying to JK 41 and JK 449 seed
varieties of kodo has enabled them to enhance yield by
nearly 20%. The surplus is enabling them to earn profits.
When put in context of the fact that the maximum that
small millets can yield per acre in this area is between
6-8 quintals, a 20% increase in yield is significant.
Diversifying to newer seed varieties helped farmers to enhance yield

Facilitating market linkages as
Seed development to address loss of cultivation increased
varietal diversity As production of millets increased, improving price
realisation for farmers became a critical need. ASA
The declining trend of millet cultivation in the district is promoted 7 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to procure
gradually being reversed by a local grassroots organisation millets from small farmers in the region, in an attempt to
– Action for Social Advancement (ASA). With funding overcome intermediation barriers. These FPCs aggregate,
support from CGIAR-affiliated Bioversity International grade and sort unprocessed produce for onward selling to
and technical advice from the MS Swaminathan Research large buyers in Bhopal, Jabalpur and Nashik. ASA and its
Foundation, ASA has been supporting local communities FPCs are actively engaged in negotiating the best possible
to preserve and expand availability of high-quality seed prices for shareholding farmers.
varieties. It has been the most crucial step to address the
loss of varietal diversity of kodo and kutki (little millet)
over the years.
Seeds developed in the Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi

Vishwavidyalaya (JNKVV), Jabalpur, were brought to
Mandla by ASA for testing. Through four-cell analysis
and Participatory Varietal Selection and Promotion
(PVSP), ASA has been working with farmers since 2010 to
determine the top four crops grown in the region, as well
as the most widely used traditional seed varieties. JNKVV,
32
Key outcomes Key learnings
Farmers have embraced small millets as a viable While there are shared challenges for millet revival
alternative in rainfed and low-quality soil areas, across India, each regional context has a key
leading to improved crop diversification and bottleneck – in this case, it was availability of high
increased resilience to climate risks. An endline quality seeds. Addressing the key challenge often has
survey conducted showed that in just three years a positive spillover effect on other related challenges.
(2015–18), area under kodo cultivation rose from
52% to 66%. The percentage of households that Behaviour change is an important, and perhaps more
sold kodo commercially rose from 10% to 35% in difficult aspect of millet cultivation. Intergenerational
the same period. efforts and evidence-based interventions over a long
period of time are critical.
Millet cultivation has helped tribal farmers
address food security challenges, especially This case is a testament to the effectiveness of
during the winter months. Grown as a Kharif long-term partnerships between farmers, FPCs,
crop, the small millet harvest is rich in protein government agricultural universities, KVKs, technical
and minerals, enabling communities to fulfill experts like MSSRF and Biodiversity International, and
nutritional needs in the colder months. grassroots organisation like ASA. Their joint efforts
have delivered an integrated approach from seeds to
As of 2022, producer companies procured markets to plates that has secured both nutritional
5,600 quintals of small millets from farmers in and economic well-being for the region’s farmers.1
the region, a 51% increase compared to their
procurement volume 5 years ago.
Price realisation has also seen an upward trend

– between 2017–22, kodo prices in the area have
increased by 100% (from Rs 13/kg to Rs 26/kg)
and kutki prices have increased by 68% (from Rs
22/kg to Rs 37/kg).
Alongside procurement, aggregation and

marketing, FPCs have played a key role in
registering newer seed varieties, seed production
and distribution, branding and marketing, as well
as building trust among farmers to enable wider
use of newer seed varieties.
The integrated interventions, from seed to

processing to markets, have catalysed local
enterprises, making millets commercially viable
ASA has been working with farmers to determine the top four crops
for local farmers. Value-added products like grown in the region
kodo rice are the most popular, with local brands
finding their way into grocery stores and thus
into the kitchens of non-tribal consumers as well.
1
This case study has been prepared based on inputs provided by Action for Social Advancement’s programme implementation team.
33
03 Preservation of Ram-mol, a Local Millet-based Mixed
Cropping System in Rainfed Regions of Kachchh, Gujarat
India’s westernmost district of Kachchh receives an
average rainfall of 330 mm with 13 rainy days in a year
and long dry spells during monsoon. Around 73% of the
land under cultivation in Kachchh comes under rainfed
area1. Climate change and altered monsoon patterns
have increased average annual rainfall in the region,
but longer dry spells continue to adversely impact the
predominantly rainfed agriculture in the district. Kachchh
is topographically unique surrounded by salt plains, a
large area of salt marshes and the sea on its west. The
soil in the region is low in organic carbon and moisture;
has a high pH and low macro and micronutrients, making
it less fertile with lower yields.
Ram-mol cropping system provides multiple harvests
conditions of varying rainfall and offer protection from

Millets are a dominant crop in droughts. Legumes have nitrogen fixing properties and
Kachchh, even as commercial crops contribute to soil health, and protein security. Millets
are growing in acreage (bajra, jowar) are climate resilient and grown mainly for
consumption (bajra) and cattle fodder (jowar). Castor
Pearl millet (Bajra) is the main cereal of Kachchh. Bajra
has commercial value.
is one of the major crops of the district, even though its
area under cultivation has declined in the last 20 years
(from 72,8002 hectares in 2004, to 18,000 hectares as Intuitive role played by women
per figures shared by the District Agriculture Officer, farmers in preparing seed-mix
Agriculture Department, Bhuj, in July 2023). The district The proportion of various seeds to be sowed is not
Agriculture Department reports that the bajra variety standardised, and women farmers prepare the seeds
grown on Khadir Bet, a small island situated within the based on their assessment of productivity of the land,
salt plains of Rann of Kachchh, has unique premium prevalent climatic conditions, and food and nutritional
value. Over the years farmers have shifted to commercial needs of the family and community. Given their history
crops, for example, castor is grown extensively in of responding to difficult climatic patterns, women
Kachchh today (over 1 lakh hectares, figure shared by farmers have deep insights on seed conservation and
district Agriculture Department). Cluster beans (for gum seed varieties.
production), green gram, cotton and sesame are other
major kharif crops. Horticulture is also a growing trend.
One crop, multiple harvests
The millet-based traditional practice Sowing with Ram-mol principles is done after the first
rainfall in Kharif season. There are multiple harvests.
of Ram-mol Sesame is harvested in approximately 100 days. Millets
The agro-climatic conditions of Kachchh are suited for and legumes are harvested in 4 months, around
coarse millets like bajra and jowar, which are not water November. Until it is harvested in October–November,
intensive crops. Bajra is cultivated in all 10 talukas of Moth bean provides live mulching. Castor, which until
the district, and is a rainfed crop. Farmers in the region this time is a short statured plant, shoots up and is the
practise a traditional agroecological practice known as last crop standing on the field. It is harvested 3 to 4
Ram-mol (translated as God’s crop). It is a multi-cropping times, and provides crop cover to the farm until the
system practice for the rainfed kharif crop including a final harvest in April–May the following year. In this
combination of millets, lentils and oilseeds. Farmers use multi-cropping system, castor offers an income as well
3 to 4 seeds of 7 traditional rainfed crops, namely, pearl as retains soil moisture and fertility.
millet (bajra), sorghum (jowar), cluster bean (guar), castor,
sesame, green gram and dew bean (moth). This system While Ram-mol has traditionally been a part of local
relies on a combination of appropriate crop choices that community practices, grassroots organisations such as
nourish the soil without the need for external inputs. A Satvik that partner with the State as technical experts
combination of deep and shallow rooted crops grow in on natural farming practices, have observed the decline
1
https://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/GUJ%208-Kutch%2030.04.2011.pdf
2
https://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/GUJ%208-Kutch%2030.04.2011.pdf
34
in the acreage under the practice, as more farmers shift
to cash crops. Since 2006, Satvik has been working
on a seed conservation programme in an attempt
to keep seed variability of Ram-mol crops alive. The
organisation has identified 17 varieties of pearl millets;
11 varieties of jowar, 17 varieties of green gram; 7
varieties of cluster bean; 5 varieties of Moth bean; 5
varieties of sesame and 4 varieties of castor that can
form the foundation of the Ram-mol mix.
Integration of traditional agroecological practices with

the State government’s Natural Farming Programmes
can be the way forward to conserve the climate-
resilient farming practices and seed diversity of
Kachchh. The region’s unique topography offers the
district an opportunity to develop a distinctive brand
for Kachchh origin millets.
Key learnings
Rainfed regions of the country can benefit from revival Women farmers prepare the seed mix based on their assessment of
productivity of the land and food security of the family
and scaling-up of traditional community wisdom on
multi-cropping and seed diversity practices such as
“
Ram-mol.
Its agro-climatic conditions make Kachchh ideal for
Practical experience and community engagement cultivation of coarse millets such as bajra. Bajra and
strengths of grassroots organisations like Satvik jowar have been traditionally grown here, though
can provide strategic partnerships with district currently there is a trend towards horticulture and
administrations on initiatives by state governments Kachchh is moving from brown to colourful crops.
on natural and organic farming programmes. These The government has been promoting natural
partnerships can harness the effectiveness of farming in Kachchh – a sustainable way would be
community farming practices and seed conservation. to promote crops that are not water intensive.
Investments in local-level value addition to millets
Integrating community wisdom on heritage seed will provide an incentive to millet farmers.
”
practices in policy interventions for dryland
agriculture in India will enable large scale adoption of Dr Manish Kanwat
Principal Scientist and Head,
millet cultivation as part of mixed cropping practices Central Arid Zone Research
that benefit the farmer, the soil and overall ecology of Institute (CAZRI) KVK, Bhuj
rainfed and dry regions of the country3.
3
This case study has been prepared based on inputs provided by District Agriculture Officer, Agriculture Department, Bhuj, Kachchh;
Principal Scientist and Head, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) KVK, Bhuj, Satvik-Promoting ecological farming, a CSO working
with rainfed cultivators in Kachchh
35
04 Self-Help Group Graduates from a Seed Bank to a
Thriving Millet Processing Enterprise in Karnataka
Dharwad district, North Karnataka, is located in what
A ‘seeds first’ approach to small
has historically been a major production centre of small
millets, with the ideal soil and agroecological conditions millet revival
for millet cultivation. The region is popular for native In 2019, Sahaja Samruddha identified a group of women
varieties of the little millet (bili saame) and black foxtail who had knowledge of indigenous seeds, in Teertha
millet (kari navane). village in Kundgol taluka, and helped them form a Self
Help Group called Bibi Fathima Swasahaya Sangha.
Sahaja Samruddha supported the SHG to establish a
Community Seed Bank. Led by Bibi Jan Halemani, the
seed bank was set up to preserve indigenous millet seed
varieties and establish economic opportunities from the
sale of successful varieties. In each season, the SHG would
take stock of demand and distribute seeds free of cost
to farmers within the taluka. Post harvest, double the
quantity of seed would be collected to replenish the seed
bank stock. The seed bank started identifying producers
from within the community who were producing high
quality seeds, to procure and sell to other farmers in
the region. As a result, the community seed bank today
has close to 100 varieties of millets and has also been
providing seed varieties to agriculture universities and
programmes in Dharwad, Gadad and Hulikoti.
Members of the Bibi Fathima Swasahaya Samuh run and manage the
millet processing unit
Despite millets being a significant part of food systems

and local diets, small millet cultivation declined over
the last few decades. Several reasons contributed to
this trend. As processing and marketing systems for
other crops like cotton and soyabean improved, farmers
shifted away from millets. Wheat and white rice became
aspirational and small millets came to be seen as the poor
person’s food. Another factor was the lack of processing
units for small millets. In the absence of mechanised
facilities, processing millets was labour-intensive and
often fell upon women. As farmers moved away from
both millet production and consumption, local seed The SHG is involved in all aspects of the millet value chain
varieties also began to dwindle.
Processing millets as an opportunity
Revival of small millets in response for the Self Help Group
to poor rainfall and crop failure risks The community seed bank’s efforts improved seed
Between 2010 and 2016, Kundgol taluka in Dharwad availability, and millet production increased in the region.
district had been experiencing low and erratic rainfall, However, the absence of a processing unit in the taluka
impacting crop harvests. Sahaja Samruddha, a local meant that farmers had to sell raw grain at unremunerative
grassroots organisation, conducted a survey and seed prices, usually to local traders who sold onward to buyers
mapping exercise in 2016–17 and found that foxtail in Nashik. Members of the Bibi Fathima SHG came forward
and little millets, once an important crop of Kundgol, with a proposal to Sahaja Samruddha to start a processing
had nearly disappeared. As climate risk mitigation unit. Such a unit could increase profitability through value-
measures, the organisation introduced little and brown added products, create entrepreneurial possibilities, open
top millets in 2017–18 as alternatives that grow in dry, new marketing channels, and service farmers’ household
wet or drought-prone landscapes. Both crops fared consumption needs as well. Setting up the unit was a true
very well and their resilience piqued farmer interest in collaboration – the Indian Institute of Millet Research
millet cultivation. funded the machinery; Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hulkoti
36
helped in setting it up; the SELCO Foundation supported
“
with solar powering; Swiss Aid supported electrification
of the unit; Sahaja Samrudha and the Indian Millet Post harvest, our processing unit helps farmers
Foundation trained the SHG members. bypass middlemen who usually pay a lower price
for the grains. We offer better value for the grain,
The SHG-managed community millet processing unit visit the farms during harvest and help cultivators
began operations in 2020-21. The women run six machines in transporting the produce to the processing unit.
– aspirators, destoners and dehullers – and the unit has To encourage household consumption of millets we
a capacity to clean and process 3 quintals of grain a day. process small quantities for a fee. We want millets
The SHG buys millets from farmers, and further sells grain, to be accessible to all households in our community,
flour, millet rava to the Dharwad-based Devadanya Farmer and our processing unit serves that purpose.
”
Producer Company as well as in the local retail market.
The unit has an annual turnover of Rs 12–15 lakhs and Bibi Jan Halemani
Convenor of the Bibi Fathima
also provides processing services for small consignments Swasahaya Sangha, Teertha
meant for household consumption.
Key learnings
Key outcomes Strengthening the processing infrastructure for millets
Today the 14-member Bibi Fathima Swasahaya is a key component of reviving millet cultivation.
Sangha is involved in all aspects of the millet value It is also an important enabler to encourage local
chain – from seed conservation, seed distribution household consumption.
to processing and marketing. They train other
women to make value-added products and build By distributing high quality and demo-tested seeds
enterprises. The SHG members keep themselves free of cost, community-owned seed banks provide a
informed on market trends and customer vital input to farmers. This goes a long way to support
preferences, and are regulars at local festivals, farmers during the sowing season, when they often
Krishi melas and agriculture department events. experience a cash crunch.
They’ve visited millet forums and exhibitions
across the state and country, where they operate Given the wide variety of small millets and their
millet kiosks and cafes to promote the nutri bespoke processing requirements, decentralised
cereals and the work of their community. processing units provide a viable solution and offer
the community an asset to expand the remunerative
In 4 years since it began its operations, the Bibi potential of millets.
Fathima Swasahaya Sangha SHG in Theertha
village of Dharwad district in Karnataka, has SHGs willing to undertake entrepreneurial activities
built a millet-based entrepreneurial model that can be the ideal community institutions to demonstrate
provides a blueprint for for women’s collectives and scale best practices – from seed conservation
to scale their operations1. to value addition, marketing and consumption.
A collaborative approach among government and

non-government stakeholders ensures that all aspects
of setting up and running the processing unit are
secured sustainably, without putting a high resource
burden on the community. Such an approach also
offers high-impact opportunities for Corporate Social
Responsibility and philanthropic investments to be
made in the millet value chain.
Members of the Bibi Fathima SHG participate in food exhibitions

across the state
1
This case study has been prepared based on inputs provided by Sahaja Samruddha - Organic Farmers
Association of Karnataka, and members of the Bibi Fathima Swasahaya Samuh
37
05 A Women-led Farmer Producer Company in Odisha
Breaks Millet Procurement Records
Launched in 2017, the Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) is a Sabujima’s all-women shareholders and Board of
flagship programme of the Odisha state government to Directors (BoDs) were also trained by CYSD to monitor
revive millets on farms and plates. Core to its strategy and facilitate the procurement process – from
is procurement of millets at a Minimum Support Price registration to quality control to payments. Many of
– the price guarantee would encourage more farmers these are functions that all FPCs in Odisha are required to
to grow millets and state procurement would meet handle as part of the decentralised procurement process
the twin goal of making millets remunerative as well as of OMM. However, there are some unique interventions
introducing them in the public distribution system to by Sabujima that give it an edge. All decentralised
enhance household nutrition. procurement sites (referred to as mandi points) have 3–4
Sabujima BoDs present to monitor quality checks and
In Boipariguda block of Odisha’s Koraput district, OMM weighment – this plays a key role in trust building and
was faced with two key challenges - a lack of awareness accountability. Sabujima also supports shareholders and
among tribal farmers about MSP procurement, and high BoDs to safeguard produce kept in storage in the event
transport costs for farmers to access agricultural market that transfer of procured produce is delayed – the FPC
sites. Involvement of local traders and intermediaries covers transport and food costs for shareholders who
in millet procurement had historically kept farmers’ monitor the mandi and local storage site on a rotational
price realisation low, discouraging several farmers basis. Sabujima shareholders have been trained to
from growing millets. In this context, it is remarkable monitor the process of timely payment – they keep tabs
that a women-led Farmer Producer Company (FPC) on generation of transit passes, a key evidence for the
from the same block won the award for highest MSP state to release payments to farmers once the produce
procurement in 2021–22. is lifted and sent to TDCC godowns.
Farmer Producer Companies engaged

in millet procurement
It all began in 2020, when OMM recognised the need
for decentralising the procurement process for millets
by directly involving farmers. As a result, FPCs were
incorporated into the design of the procurement model
for millets. They were made key stakeholders in the
process, alongside the Tribal Development Co-operative
Corporation (TDCC) and the Department of Agriculture.
Depending on the volumes procured, FPCs would earn Board members of Sabujima FPC inspecting produce for procurement
commissions as part of this design. For women-led Furthermore, Sabujima also assists farmers with grading,
Sabujima FPC which had been set up in 2017, this was a sorting and post harvest processing at mandi points
unique opportunity for financial sustainability. where procurement volumes can be as high as 2,800
quintals a day. The FPC hires hullers for use by farmers
Sabujima FPC’s strategy to engage at these sites.
farmers, secure procurement,
ensure payments
To start with, women farmer shareholders of Sabujima
organised awareness campaigns, with resources from
the district Agricultural Training and Management
Agency and support from a grassroots organisation
Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD). The
awareness rath, led by Sabujima shareholders, travels
across all gram panchayats covered by Sabujima at key
moments – before the procurement season, when the
surplus list is released by the state (based on which
procurement quantities per farmer are determined), and
if procurement slows down.
38
In villages across Boipariguda, folk songs nowadays are
Key outcomes about MSP and mandi points for millets – a compelling
Sabujima has been involved in millet indicator of Sabujima’s success in raising awareness and
procurement since 2020. Between 2020–23, enhancing MSP procurement.
procurement volume has increased by 117%,
“
and nearly 2,700 farmers sold their produce
via Sabujima. In the last three years, the FPC All the credit for the success of Sabujima FPC goes
has been able to generate nearly Rs 40 lakhs to the FPC shareholders and CYSD staff. From the
as commission from millet procurement alone. field preparation to selling of farmers’ produce
This has accounted for 45% of Sabujima’s in mandis, the FPC have provided hand-holding
turnover during this period. Sabujima aims to support to the farmers. As the procurement
sell over 50% of millet produced by farmers in agency, TDCC provided all the necessary support
the block to MSP channels as it offers the highest like providing gunny bags, lifting the produce after
price realisation. It encourages farmers to keep procurement & transferring incentives to farmers’
about 20–30% of the produce for household account along with buying the produce at the right
consumption, emphasising nutritional security. time, but all that couldn’t be possible without the
The remaining is sold to other market channels. FPC’s support.
There is a saying in Odia ‘Dekha Sikha Odisha’,

Key learnings meaning seeing is believing; each year the number
MSP procurement has played a key role in encouraging of farmers is increasing all thanks to the efforts
farmers to see millets as remunerative in Odisha. of the FPC members and CYSD staff. This year we
are planning to surpass last year’s procurement of
Farmer Producer Companies are uniquely positioned 34,145 quintals to 40,000 quintals.
”
in the agricultural marketing ecosystem to provide
customised and value-added services to farmers Suresh Chandra Mallik
Branch Manager, TDCC
cultivating millets. Their role and function can be Sunabeda, Koraput
tailored for state procurement programme as well as
for non-state marketing channels.
Women-led FPCs can combine the two key objectives

of millet revival initiatives: income generation and
“ After the decision in our Board of Directors
meeting, each member was tasked with spreading
consumption for household nutrition. awareness in their native & neighbouring
GPs along with the ‘Awareness Rath’. It was a
Resourcing support from state agencies like ATMA challenge at first to convince the people regarding
and TDCC has been crucial to support allied activities government schemes because they used to get cash
like grading, sorting, value addition and awareness in hand for all their produce from the middlemen
generation. and this process of selling their produce at mandi
takes time, but eventually, they learnt and started
Civil society partners like CYSD are an integral cooperating by joining the campaign.
part of OMM’s design – their technical expertise
and contextual community mobilisation skills has We’re planning to add more and more left out
enhanced the capacities of the FPC members. farmers to get benefits of this programme.
”
Alladin Khila
Board member, Sabujima FPC
Kollar, Koraput1
1
This case study has been prepared based on inputs provided by the Centre for Youth and Social Development’s programme
implementation team.
39
06 Dibyajyoti SHG’s Journey to Creating a Millet MSME
in Rourkela, Odisha
In March 2022, the Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) Growth story started with small
launched a Millet Shakti cafe in Rourkela City. Millet steps and timely government support
Shakti is a brand created by the Odisha Millet Mission,
to promote value-added products in urban, peri-urban, The 12-member Dibyajyoti SHG has built a successful
and rural areas of the state through millet cafes, outlets, microenterprise that provides an exemplary model for
and tiffin centres. So far, OMM has set up 8 Millet Shakti millet-based businesses. Training and access to credit at
cafes, 152 village-level tiffin centres (kiosks), and 4 food critical growth points have been catalytic in its expansion.
trucks under the brand – all of which are run by women’s
self-help groups. For several years since it was set up in 2009, the Dibyajyoti
SHG operations remained low-key. In 2011, it was
empanelled by the WCD department to prepare Chhatua
– a multigrain mix provided as Take-Home Ration (THR)
to children in Odisha for 215 Anganwadi centres. In 2014,
the SHG took a small loan of Rs 50,000 from Mission
Shakti – the Odisha State Government department for
the economic empowerment of women through SHGs.
They set up a bakery unit, making biscuits to sell at local
markets and exhibitions. (Mission Shakti facilitates bank
linkage and interest subvention for women’s groups).
The turning point for the SHG was the collaboration with
the Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) in 2017. The OMM
is a programme of the State Agriculture Department,
launched with the objective of encouraging the
cultivation and consumption of millets. It aimed to build
capacity for processing, production of value-added
products, and market linkages, through SHGs. Through
the convergence of the Agriculture Department and
The Millet Shakti Café brand logo Mission Shakti Department, Dibyajyoti SHG received
The compact little cafe in Rourkela run by the Dibyajyoti training and credit support to scale operations. OMM
SHG of Bisra block, is a conversation starter. The SHG also trained them to develop new recipes with 7 kinds
members actively engage with customers, sharing health of millet.
benefits and recipes. They prepare over 80 different
value-added products from millets in their mother Soon, Dibyajyoti’s whole product portfolio changed. The
kitchen, many of these are displayed and served at the SHG members tapped into the market for value-added
cafe. Some visitors are struck by the variety of sweet and millet products armed with the expertise to turn grains
savoury millet-based snacks, dispelling the commonly into tasty, convenient (to carry and store) products, and
held belief that the grains are difficult to cook with. built effective collaborations to diversify their markets.
Others, like the staff of a nearby hospital, are just glad
to have healthy alternatives to snack on after long shifts. Developing millet-based products to
From a group making small savings of a few hundred suit consumer tastes and preferences
rupees, the SHG has evolved into a successful millet Members of the Dibyajyoti SHG won several awards
enterprise with an annual turnover of Rs 1.5 Cr. It has and travelled across the state to participate in state-
tapped into diverse markets for millets and supplies sponsored food exhibitions and events. Growth brought
products to stores and tiffin centres in 22 districts of confidence, and the ambition to scale operations
the state. Millet-based items are supplied to kiosks at further. Through loans from Mission Shakti in 2021 and
5 railway stations under an Odisha State Government 2022, they invested in biscuit manufacturing machinery
collaboration to promote millets. The daily sales at the to process large orders. Depending on the volume of
cafe are approximately Rs 30,000. In December 2022, orders, the group employs members from the block-level
Dibyajyoti SHG was felicitated by the Chief Minister of SHG federation, providing employment opportunities to
Odisha for being the best-performing SHG in the state. more women.
40
Cafe and connections: OMM’s push for millets and convergence with
Building partnerships for success Mission Shakti has brought women to the centre
In 2021, when OMM was planning to set up a cafe in the stage of the state’s millet economy. Many of the
industrial town of Rourkela – Dibyajyoti SHG emerged early starter SHGs are now organising training
as a strong contender. They had experience in food sessions for other women SHGs, who want to
processing and the capability to arrange working capital foray into the millet business.
and run a business.
Dibyajyoti has hosted several SHGs from
The Institute of Hotel Management, Bhubaneswar Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on exposure visits
is a knowledge partner of OMM and stepped in for to study and replicate their model.
skill development, and inputs in plating and serving
dishes. OMM provides a financial grant to set up the
infrastructure and basic equipment, and training on
diverse facets of business administration, book-keeping, Key learnings
and IT support. Students of the National Institute of Women SHGs (WSHGs) can be tapped effectively as
Technology, Rourkela, also helped in marketing and production and marketing channels for value-added
building awareness about millets through internship millet products. It will come with the added benefit of
programmes organised by OMM partners. giving women more economic agency.
Capacity and credit for small millet entrepreneurs and

WSHGs at critical points in their growth can contribute
immensely to the expansion of the millet economy.
Roping in young people from institutes of food and

technology can help spread the message effectively
and build the next-generation customer base. This
can happen through internship programmes, school
food festivals, and much more.
It is important to archive traditional knowledge of

millet recipes and build a bank of new ones that cater
to evolving customer tastes.
The Millet Cafe at Rourkela Millet food festivals play an important role in
mainstreaming the grains in daily diets and providing
Taking India’s millets to the world a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their
innovations.
Dibyajyoti was selected by OMM to participate in an
MSME trade fair in Paris in 2022. Travelling from the Continued training of millet entrepreneurs is crucial
outskirts of Rourkela to the international stage was a for periodic upgradation of products and menus.
milestone for Dibyajyoti’s representatives. The millet
ambassadors from Odisha shared the story of India’s
climate-smart healthy grains with entrepreneurs across
the world. They also brought back ideas on presentation
and packaging, to improve their own products at the
cafe in Rourkela1.
Key outcomes
Odisha has emerged as an exemplar model for
the promotion of millets. Women SHGs have
trained other groups to build enterprises.
1
This case study has been prepared based on inputs from members of Dibyajyoti SHG and the Odisha Millet Mission
41
Recipe training programme for WSHGs
“ Millets are healthy grains and our effort is to try

and get more and more people to add millets to
their diets. We create products that make them
tasty and acceptable, replacing refined flour and
wheat or rice with millet. We have traditional
recipes as well as new ones that we developed to
suit people’s preferences. We customise based on
feedback from clients and the training by OMM
and other partners has equipped us to adapt.
Children want pasta and gol gappas, adults want The Dibyajyoti SHG members at the Millet Shakti cafe in Rourkela
healthy, homemade snacks – millets are versatile
and offer many possibilities. We hope that our
cafe makes people realise that millets can easily
be part of our daily diets.
Prema Das
President,
Dibyajyoti SHG
”
42
07 A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership to Mainstream Millets
as Nutritious Snacks for Children Under ICDS in Odisha
As per NITI Aayog’s report on best practices in promoting standardise the preparation process and stabilise the
millets in diets, a number of states including Madhya supply chain of millets.
Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana
have undertaken initiatives to include millets in ICDS. With funding support from the District Mineral Fund
(DMF) at Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts, the millet-
Odisha’s efforts to introduce Ragi-based ladoos as a based morning snack programme was piloted in July–
morning snack to 1.49 lakh preschool-children under August 2020 and has since been universalised from
ICDS in nearly 7,000 Anganwadis in the tribal districts April 2021 in the two districts. DMF funds have now
of Keonjhar and Sundargarh, is unprecedented in scale. been sanctioned for the programme in the two districts
The initiative supports livelihoods for 58 women SHGs until 2026.
involved in the preparation of these millet-based snacks.
Technical support to standardise the recipe with
Initiated under the Odisha Millet Mission (OMM), the recommended nutritional composition was provided
programme contributes to children’s nutrition and health by the Central Food Technological Research Institute
outcomes, food diversification at a critical age, and (CFTRI), Mysuru. The Department of Women and Child
influences large scale behaviour change in acceptance Welfare, Government of Odisha was the implementing
and consumption of millets in local communities. agency. WASSAN (Watershed support services and
activities network), a non-profit organisation that
partners with OMM, was the facilitating agency assisting
in the planning, training and implementation process. It
also built the capacity of SHGs and Anganwadi workers
involved in the programme.
From procurement to production

Raw ragi for the laddoos is sourced from the state’s
procurement agency, Tribal Development Cooperative
Corporation of Odisha and Odisha State Civil Supplies
Corporation Ltd.
To procure and clean the grain, SHGs were selected

by the department of Mission Shakti (the State
government’s mission for financial empowerment of
women through Self Help Groups). These SHGs are
responsible for sourcing, cleaning and storing millets
as per demand from the (millet) value addition units
at block level. Budget under the Odisha Millet Mission
was utilised to establish cleaning, grading and destoning
units. A seamless process of approvals for timely supply
of millets was worked out for the SHGs to supply the
Children receiving supplementary nutrition at Anganwadi centres desired stock on a monthly or quarterly basis.
From mission declaration to actual The grain then travelled to another set of SHGs for value
addition (into ladoo mix). These were nominated from
implementation existing empanelled SHGs under the ICDS value addition
The Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) declared inclusion of activity. Upon preparing the product, they supply it to
millet-based snacks under ICDS in its millet distribution the Anganwadi centres every month.
and consumption framework, when it launched in 2017.
The challenges identified were, setting up the process
for end-to-end delivery, piloting the project, and gaining
acceptance of the recipe from the children visiting
Anganwadi centres. Further, to scale the programme,
it needed financing and critical technical support to
43
Training for food safety and hygiene
Key outcomes
The SHGs handling the produce, processing and recipe
The programme has created greater acceptance
preparation were provided comprehensive training
of millets in the community, reintroducing it in
in adherence to hygienic practices. WASSAN provided
daily diets. It has also enhanced livelihoods,
the training based on protocols developed by CFTRI,
buyback support from the government during
Mysuru. The training covered food safety and quality
the programme and infrastructure and expertise
practices at all points - from procurement of ingredients,
development of SHGs encouraged rural
processing, storage conditions, to preparation of the
enterprise. A standard recipe (and handling) for
recipe and serving the snacks to children, involving
millet-based snacks has been developed, and
Anganwadi workers.
available as a template for scaling up.
Key learnings
Community nutrition programmes have the potential
to generate acceptance for millets in diets, generating
demand in the community.
The learnings from the morning snack programme

have enabled the State Government to develop a
scale-up plan for millets-based Take-Home Ration
(THR) for pregnant and lactating mothers and
undernourished children1.
Preparation of ragi ladoo by SHGs
Sustained nutrition for children and

“ One of the key objectives of the Odisha Millets
Mission is to include nutritious millets in ICDS,
MDM and PDS. In this regard, inclusion of ragi
secure livelihoods for women ladoo in ICDS has already been launched in two
The programme targets preschool children in districts districts, namely Keonjhar and Sundergarh through
where iron deficiency is rampant. The millet-based ladoos involvement of Women Self Help Groups under
(22 gm) provide nutritional support over and above the Mission Shakti Dept since 2019. This has received a
existing menu served to children at Anganwadi centres. very good response. Keonjhar has further included
ragi ladoo for the boarders of ST Hostels. Under
The 58 SHGs involved in preparation of the millet-based Odisha Millets Mission, in addition to ragi ladoo,
snack received technical training and equipment, and pilots were also carried out on inclusion of ragi
have the capacity to diversify their income and build based THR. Based on the success, the Department
millet-based enterprises. of Women & Child Development is now planning
to scale up inclusion of millets for pregnant and
lactating women in a phased manner through
Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana (MSPY).
OMM looks forward to closely collaborating with
the concerned departments in mainstreaming
millets in government schemes for improving
nutritional security. In addition to improving
nutritional security, an assured market for millet
farmers through government programmes would
also support livelihoods of vulnerable rainfed
farmers of Odisha.
Dr Arabinda Padhee
Principal Secretary,
Department of Agriculture
& Farmers’ Empowerment,
”
Millet ladoos provide nutrition support over and above the existing Government of Odisha
menu served to children at AWCs
1
This case study has been prepared based on inputs provided by the Odisha Millet Mission and WASSAN
44
08 Integration of Millets with ICDS Hot-Cooked Meals in
Aspirational Districts of Telangana
Under the Aspirational District Programme (ADP) Activating millet meals at Anganwadis
on NITI Aayog website1 funded a programme for
decentralised inclusion of millets in Hot Cooked Meals and at home
as a supplementary nutrition initiative under ICDS in The State Women’s Development and Child Welfare
three districts of Telangana. Jowar was once a part (WD&CW) department proposed the pilot in the 3 districts
of the staple diet in Telangana. Over the past few to be implemented by the district administrations. Civil
decades, consumption of Jowar has declined due to low society organisations like WASSAN (Watershed support
productivity and farmers’ preference for high yielding services and activities network), RRAN (Revitalising
paddy varieties. The decline in millet cultivation has Rainfed Agriculture Network) and the Working Group on
changed local food habits and possibly nutrition Millets were involved in designing the delivery mechanism
outcomes as well. and coordination between state department and district
administrations. WASSAN was also responsible for creating
The Supplementary Nutrition Programme under awareness on cultivation practices among farmers.
the ICDS is designed to bridge the gap between the
Recommended Dietary Allowance and Average Daily The pilot took a two-pronged approach:
Intake of children, pregnant and lactating women,
by providing a nutritious diet at Anganwadi Centres. • Encourage the revival of millet cultivation by
This pilot was further designed to mobilise local local farmers by providing seed support to help
farmers, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer them convert a portion of their fields to local
Companies (FPCs) to cultivate, process and supply varieties in conjunction with knowledge of
millets to support the nutrition programme targeting appropriate farming practices.
the community’s most vulnerable women and children.
• Establish a local supply chain to provide
The pilot (Sept 2020–March 2023) aimed to address processed grain to the Anganwadis for meal
nutrition gaps for children and mothers with the preparation; as millets were not centrally
introduction of millet-based meals at Anganwadis in available for procurement, the pilot took a
the selected districts. It also aimed to encourage local decentralised approach to procuring grains for
cultivation of millets to facilitate the re-entry of millets local processing.
into daily local diets.
Promoting local cultivation

District teams mobilised farmers to enrol for cultivation.
For the Kharif season in 2021, seeds were distributed by
the district administration in 54 villages of KB Asifabad,
58 villages of Jayashankar Bhupalpally and 57 villages of
Bhadradri Kothagudem. Seeds were distributed to nearly
6,000 farmer households, to grow 7 to 8 types of millets.
Farmers were encouraged to start growing on small
parcels of land. A similar trend was followed in 2022.
Local processing involving SHG/FPC

One SHG in each district was provided machinery and
training to carry out the processing, which involved
The ICDS programme encouraged local cultivation of millets
cleaning and dehusking the raw grains. In Kothagudem,
Three districts were chosen on account of their a Farmer Producer Company was involved in processing
maternal health, child health and nutrition indicators. as well. The processed grain (jowar, foxtail millet) was
Ten mandals of Jayashankar Bhupalpally, KB Asifabad then turned into ready-to-cook mix by the SHGs under
and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts were chosen for ICDS delivery framework. The millet-based ready-to-
the pilot. In the second year of the project, Asifabad cook grains/mix were sent to Anganwadi centres where
district administration extended the project to the workers prepared hot cooked meals such as jowar upma,
entire district. foxtail khichdi and jowar multigrain mix.
45
government efforts to improve nutritional outcomes.
Recipe development with local
Over a two-year period, demand catalysed through
community ICDS meals led to early shifts in local cultivation of
Recipe development was done by engaging mothers millets, an increase in their household consumption
groups and village elders. Anganwadi workers were and generation of a marketable surplus.
trained to prepare the millet meals. In addition,
community leaders and Panchayat officials were The two-year intervention period also demonstrates
mobilised to carry out awareness camps on the that for significant impact on nutritional outcomes,
nutritional aspect of millets. Food festivals revived local cultivation, production and marketing of
memories of millets among locals, encouraging them to millets, longer term investments can drive large
bring it back on their plates. scale outcomes. Integrating millet production and
consumption habits locally requires significant
efforts - for individual behaviour change as well as
to create the enabling production, processing and
marketing infrastructure.
Districts like Asifabad that have extended the

programme beyond the project period will help build
an evidence case for this experiment that converges
shared priorities across multiple government
departments, with millets as a key enabler2.
Anganwadi workers receive training to prepare meals with millets

“ With the support of NITI Aayog and WCD
Department of Telangana, the programme for
inclusion of millets in Anganwadi centres of
aspirational district Kumuram Bheem Asifabad
Key outcomes was started. Under this initiative, Anganwadi
teachers and workers were trained in various
The pilot covered a total of 3,545 Anganwadi centres recipes like foxtail millet khichdi, little millet
where women and children were served two millet payasam, ragi laddoo, ragi jawa, millet idli, dosa
meals in a week. Over 94,368 women and children and appam etc. Further, food festivals were
received millet-based Hot Cooked Meals. organised in every village, where these recipes
were cooked in the community, taking it to local
Sustained awareness and engagement with villagers. Initially, door-to-door visits were made
farmers brought about 1,000 acres under by Anganwadi teachers to motivate people to
millet cultivation in each district. Most farmers consume at least one millet meal at home. Later,
did small scale cultivation and used grains for we started supplying jowar dalia, foxtail millets
household consumption. Even though surplus for and ragi laddoo mix to Anganwadi centres to be
procurement was low initially, a trend began to served for 2 days as Hot Cooked Meal to children,
emerge as interest and demand for millet seeds pregnant and lactating women. To meet the
went up in the following cropping seasons. increased demand, certified seeds procured
from IIMR were supplied to increase cultivation
In Asifabad, the project reported that almost by 6,000 hectares. The district was awarded the
80% of the ICDS beneficiaries cooked at least PM Award for Excellence in 2022, for the efforts
one additional millet meal every week, at home. taken in this programme. This initiative has helped
KB Asifabad administration has since decided to immensely in reviving consumption of millets
continue the pilot as per availability of funds. As in the district, these grains were traditionally a
per district officials in Asifabad, village kirana staple diet of tribals. It has created tremendous
shops saw a spurt in demand for millets. awareness among people about the benefits of
millets for health and environment.
Key learnings
This unique pilot offers a potential model for local
millet-based circular economies aided by the
Chahat Bajpai
IAS Additional collector (LB),
Asifabad
”
1
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-06/Take-home-ration-report-30_06_2022.pdf
2
This case study has been prepared based on inputs provided by the WDCD Department, Telangana, and WASSAN
46
09 Taru Naturals, a Responsible Enterprise Taking Millets
from Farms to Fine-dining
During a stint in the social sector, Ruchi Jain, co-founder to each farmer over a stipulated period of time, after
Taru Naturals, spent considerable time travelling across which Taru starts receiving the desired quality produce
rural India. She gained a deep understanding of agriculture at their Mumbai warehouse, which is packaged, value-
supply chain gaps that prevent Indian small scale farmers added at times, and then sent to consumers. Taru’s
from finding profitable and accessible markets for their team also invests in research and development of their
produce. This often led small farmers to sell produce to product range in consultation with consumers. The
local traders or at village markets at unremunerative feedback received is integrated into their mentoring
prices. She learnt that the farming communities had to be support to farmers.
equipped and educated end-to-end on the agricultural
value chain, to value their products and strategize Taru’s team visits farmers regularly and supports
localised solutions for self-sufficiency. them for product quality checks, accreditation as per
the National Standards for Organic Products, FSSAI-
In 2016, Ruchi started nurturing the idea of creating an approved lab tests, customised packaging for each
indigenous and heirloom food brand for the urban market product and connects them to local marketing partners.
that was good for the people, planet and profitable for The support is customised at a farm and farmer level.
the farmer. She founded Taru Naturals & Organics Ltd. Tushar Shirke, from Purandar, Maharashtra is a millet
with her mother who is a trained naturopath to promote farmer, who could not find markets to sell his produce.
organically-grown climate-resilient indigenous foods. The Taru’s team assisted him to identify the gaps in cultivation
brand has whole grains, flour, ready-to-eat and ready- practices that impacted the quality of produce, improve
to-use packaged products made from millets, heirloom grain processing and identify marketing opportunities.
rice varieties, spices, lentils, healthy drinks and organic He learnt the principles of natural farming and adopted
jaggery, among other products. It aims to offer clean and quality control checks as per client preferences and
healthy food to consumers at fair prices and opportunities demands. He also received assistance in securing market
to farmers to become economically self reliant, and while linkages. Tushar manages his business independently
promoting climate resilient farming practices. now and Taru is one of his many buyers.
Taru has also created a WhatsApp chatbot service

to connect with over 10,000 farmers. The chatbot
enables farmers to access standardised information to
many FAQs at any given time. In helping farmers build
businesses, Taru is providing critical support to small
farmers. For their commitment to an idea that invests in
farmers and promotes an inclusive value chain model,
Taru Naturals bagged the ‘Best Small Business’ award at
the UN Food Systems Summit 2021.
Taking millets to metro cities,

restaurants, online marketplaces,
community markets
Ruchi Jain, co-founder of Taru Naturals with farmers on site From whole grains and stone-ground flours, millet
energy bars, cookies, muesli, pancake and cheela
Integrating farmers with upstream mixes, upma and porridges, Taru Naturals has over 60
products made with millets, black rice, khapli wheat,
processing, packaging and marketing lentils and other organically grown pulses and cereals.
Taru Naturals presently networks with small farmers and The procured farm goods reach the Mumbai warehouse
Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) across 14 states of where they are checked for quality and packaged. Value
India who practice natural and climate resilient farming addition recipes and products like breakfast pre-ready
techniques, and cultivate indigenous food. Farmers mixes, healthy snacks and others, are made to suit
are provided mentoring support for at least a year urban tastes and trends, and make millets convenient,
through diverse skilling programmes on natural farming and aspirational for urban consumers. The brand uses
practices, climate-resilient cropping techniques, quality both D2C (direct to consumers) and B2B (business to
management and processing techniques. This process is business) strategies, selling from their website, online
resource intensive and demands personalised support marketplaces like Amazon, and retailing in the four metro
47
cities via SPARIndia supermarkets. Their organic whole
grains, spices and other products are supplied to leading
five-star hotels and restaurants such as the Taj Palace,
Burma Burma, Smoke House Deli, as well as Chutney
Mary in India and the United Kingdom. This year, Taru
Naturals started exporting millet-based products to the
United States, Canada, the UK, Switzerland, and Dubai.
To create conversation around clean and healthy foods
like millets, Taru Naturals has formed several online
networks. The Moms Nuskhe Club has mothers sharing
ideas for healthy foods for their families; there are local
gardening clubs exchanging information on growing
clean food. A network of chefs on the lookout for
indigenous organic produce for their fine dining kitchens
provides market intelligence on new trends, consumer
preferences and demands. They also regularly interact
with consumers via stalls at the Bandra and Chembur
Farmers markets in Mumbai.
The challenges of creating a Taru Naturals has over 60 products made from millets and other
indigenous grains
responsible, sustainable brand
Given the founder’s commitment to invest what the Key learnings
business gained back into building an inclusive value
Incubation support to millet-based entrepreneurs can
chain where farmers benefit equally, Taru’s initial
be immensely beneficial.
years have been resource intensive. Taru invested
time and resources in research and development work
Millet entrepreneurs need partnerships with on-
on standardised product quality, recipes, packaging
ground KVKs, local non-profit organisations that work
and setting up systems. With 2023 declared as the
with farmers and extension service providers to secure
International Year of Millets, their brand and philosophy
their sourcing backend for traceability and quality.
is receiving a lot of recognition today, but early years have
Doing it by themselves can burden their business
been tough. Ruchi shares that the modest fellowship
model with costs that are hard to fund or recover.
received via the Unlimited Fellowship in 2019 was very
crucial to support the operational costs of her business.
Ventures in the millets space would benefit significantly
“It is very challenging for entrepreneurs to receive
from access to affordable finance towards processing
financial support to take care of the administrative
equipment, product development, lab testing fee,
expenses, especially in the initial years when turnover
quality accreditation and organic certification1.
is slow. My fellowship was helpful. And then by winning
the Powered Accelerator award, I was able to invest
more into my business.” The award money was invested
in the warehouse and branding of Taru’s products. With
a turnover of under Rs 1 Cr and requisite infrastructure
“ Food should be healthy for you, profitable for the
farmer, and support the local agroecosystem. The
in place, the brand now aims to reach out to many more Taru model is inspired by agroecology models in
restaurants, and establish more D2C linkages. India – who seek to integrate natural and climate-
resilient farming techniques with the required
quality accreditations and market linkages to
establish an economically viable model.
Ruchi Jain
Co-founder of Taru Naturals
”
1
This case study has been prepared based on inputs provided by Ruchi Jain, co-founder, Taru Naturals
48
10 Slurrp Farm, a Successful Brand Story of Delicious,
Healthy Millet-based Food Products for Children
and (Now) Adults
Founded in 2016 with just two millet-based products, While formulating recipes, the founders started with
Meghana Narayan and Shauravi Malik, entrepreneurs a list of things they didn’t want to add into their own
and mothers, launched Slurrp Farm to make millet-based children’s diet such as refined flour, sugars and additives.
healthy and tasty products for children. Today they have Mothers who shared the same sentiment, pitched in
nearly 60 products and are present in approximately with recommendations and taste approvals. Product
1,800 stores across the metro cities. They serve more recipes were an outcome of advice from the community
than seven lakh customers through e-commerce and of mothers that they built and from nutrition experts.
offline marketplaces in India. Slurrp Farm has grown 30X The goal was to get children to start young, encourage
in the last seven years into a $10 million business today, parents to introduce millets through baby porridge and
with a plan to double growth every year over the next 3 milk mixes, make it tasty and convenient, and reach urban
years. consumers, especially young mothers. The brand has
since expanded its range to value-added products such
Meghana graduated from Harvard Business School as ready-to-use breakfast cereals or muesli, noodles,
and Shauravi studied economics at Cambridge and pasta, milk mixes, upma, dosa mix and several others
worked in finance. They wanted to create ready-to-cook using millets and healthy grains as core ingredients.
products for children, which were healthy and free of
refined flour and sugar as well as artificial colours and
preservatives. For a country that has such an incredible An integrated marketing strategy
food culture and a large variety of grains including with mothers and parents at its core
millets, the entrepreneurs viewed the lack of diversity
Slurrp Farm has taken a consumer-centric approach to
on store shelves as a significant gap in India’s ready-to-
both product development and marketing. A cornerstone
eat market. They decided to launch a brand that offered
of the brand’s marketing strategy was to create an active
products made from whole grains and millets-something
and engaged community of parents, with a focus on
they themselves had grown up eating.
mothers and then went on to create its own community
‘Yes Moms’.
The company also built an integrated e-commerce

website, driving traffic through a combination of online
marketing channels. The team at Slurrp published blogs
with relevant content for young parents. Their YouTube
platform featured experiences and testimonials of
parent celebrities. Their Instagram account also drove
engagement and traffic to their website.
In 2022, they launched their first ad-campaign ‘Yes ka

time aa gaya’ - a series of 3 films showing a number
of situations where mothers are compelled to draw
the line and say ‘no’ to food suggestions from family
L to R: Shauravi Malik and Meghana Narayan, co-founders of Slurrp Farm and friends in the interest of their child’s health. The
company leveraged and amplified the campaign across
digital touchpoints including YouTube, Instagram, and
From a local to a global brand Facebook, and with leading influencers. The subsequent
Slurrp Farm began as a small experiment that has launch of their ‘Yes Moms’ online community offers
grown into a health-and-nutrition-conscious, millet- and mothers a platform to share questions and concerns,
whole-grain-based food brand for children. Meghana insights and experience on topics such as weaning foods
and Shauravi along with Umang Bhattacharyya (the for babies, immunity for toddlers and older kids and
third co-founder) worked cohesively to create recipes, healthy alternatives for junk food.
engage with their customer base and develop marketing
channels for their products. Beyond their integrated e-commerce website, Slurrp
Farm products are available on major e-commerce
For raw materials, they connected with millet and grain platforms such as Amazon, Big Basket, FirstCry, and on
farmers and suppliers for reliable, organic produce. the company’s own e-commerce integrated website.
49
Offline, products are available across the four metros.
Opportunities ahead
In the coming years, the founders are aiming to build a
sustainable business and shape the way India eats. Of their expansion plans, the founders share that they’re
building a millet brand out of India for the world. The
products showcase India’s millets and other superfoods
Is “good for you, good for the planet” that are good for the people and the planet. In 2022,
enough? Taste and convenience are they got the AWS Global Accelerator through which they
critical to changing food habits entered the US, the UK and Europe (German) markets.
Both Slurrp Farms and Mille are available in India and
While the health benefits and climate-resilience of millets
across these markets.
are part of the messaging strategy of Slurrp Farm, the
founders believe that taste and convenience are key to
consumer adoption. Hence positioning millets as healthy Key learnings
foods that can also be delicious, palatable and easy- Innovate for India: Make millets and whole grain
to-make, has brought them repeat customers. Trendy alternatives for recipes that are part of the everyday
packaging and products that offer healthy alternatives to menu. Health is a hook, but consumers are also led by
existing and familiar recipes, are all strategies to improve taste, convenience, and packaging, in the decision to buy.
consumer acceptance. “Innovate for India” is at the heart
of their brand philosophy. Integrate, not replace: Food habits are difficult to change.
Integrate healthier grains into mainstream foods.
Mille - A new brand for adults
Build a community: Engage and educate consumers,
Mille came as a response to the global curiosity build awareness through participative engagement both
for millet-based foods, and was launched as a online and offline, and use feedback to improve products.
supergrain company in 2022 with an undisclosed
investment and endorsement from Bollywood
actor Anushka Sharma who wants to “put millets
in the centre of our plates”. It has products such as
breakfast cereals, pancakes, cake mixes and gluten-
free grains, products made from millets, lentils and
legumes that are nutritionally dense for people of
all age groups (the target group is 25 to 50 years).
Beating lifestyle diseases, helping you stay in shape,
tasty and convenient food for a fitter and healthier
life is Mille’s value proposition.
Slurrp Farm makes healthy grain alternatives for recipes that are part
of everyday Indian diets
One of the co-founders of Slurrp Farm was interviewed for this case study. Information was also gathered from articles published in
the media.
50
11 IIMR - Accelerating Success of Millet-based
Enterprises Through Research and Incubation
Momos in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, instant noodles Nutrihub technology and business incubator, was set
in Mumbai and ice cream at Trichy share a common up as a Section 8 company under ICAR-IIMR in 2017
ingredient: yes, millets. The fact that the United Nations to build synergies between millet start-ups, investors,
General Assembly has declared 2023 as the International corporates, governments and academia. The technology
Year of Millet, has further highlighted India’s remarkable and business incubator aims to commercialise millets and
efforts at reviving heritage grains as a sustainable create demand for varied products. It offers 360-degree
approach to address food security, nutrition and handholding support to millet-based start-ups,
climate-resilient agriculture. From the farmer’s fields to connecting them with farmers, funders and big industries.
fine dining restaurants, the millet movement has one This is supported by on-site training and capacity building
underlying message: millets are good for you, and good in technology, mentoring, research inputs, and grant
for the planet. The nine millet varieties grown in India are facilitation. Start-ups are accelerated through private
a rich source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, are funding, to take products to market.
heart and gut healthy, and prevent the onset of diabetes.
Challenges in the millet value chain

The acceptance of millets as a nutritional food
alternative by consumers and as a viable business
opportunity require significant investments in research,
technology innovation and market development. Even
as entrepreneurs are gearing up to explore business
opportunities that millets offer, there are challenges
in product development, finance and sustained
market development (distribution and branding). In
essence, large-scale adoption and commercialisation
of millets requires addressing both demand and supply
Millet Flaking unit at Nutrihub
side challenges. Research investments in product
development (for convenience, ease of use and value-
addition), innovation and appropriate decentralised grain Convenience as an innovation
processing technologies and marketing infrastructure at Millet entrepreneurs at Nutrihub are supported with
large scale are the need of the hour. value-addition technologies and technical assistance
(scientific validation of nutrition, palatability, and
the shelf life of products). The big breakthrough for
millets for product-led entrepreneurs is to improve the
ease of value addition. Millets lack gluten, a protein
present in wheat which makes it ‘stretchy’ and helps
to bind food together. Being gluten-free makes value
addition in millets a challenge. Nutrihub has developed
millet-specific food processing solutions to address
this challenge while ensuring that the quality of grain,
Products incubated at Nutrihub nutritive value and shelf life are not compromised.
Nutrihub: Promoting millet science,

technology and entrepreneurship
Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, now
designated as a Global Centre for Excellence on Millets, is a
premier agriculture research institute addressing end-to-
end process of quality millet production and generating
market demand. While it leads the scientific research
for increasing millet production, IIMR felt the need for
a dedicated institution to support entrepreneurship for
commercialisation of millet products.
51
“
Start-ups at Nutrihub receive access to:
• Millet production and processing technology: As an institute we preempted, over 15 years ago,
This includes demonstrating millet-specific that demand should be brought up to increase
processing technology and equipment for profitability of millet farmers. We are working to
improved grain quality and preparation of strengthen the farmer to consumer value chain,
millet-based food products that retain nutritive and improve millet science. Lifestyle diseases
value with an improved shelf life. Start-ups linked to food choices have created a huge market
also have access to licensed technologies for millet products. India is leading innovation
by ICAR-IIMR. of millet-based food and we are ready to cross
boundaries and take our tech to countries like
• Financial linkages: Start-ups receive assistance Africa and build south-to-south cooperation in
in launching their products at business millet tech and innovation.
platforms to attract investors from angel/ B Dayakar Rao
venture capitalists or loans from commercial Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIMR
& Director and CEO, Nutrihub
banks/financial institutions to help scale up at
a faster pace.
• Government linkages: Nutrihub builds

linkages with the State governments to help its
incubatees develop millet-based products for
“
I ventured into millets because my mother
was diabetic and I wanted to make healthier
government nutrition schemes. alternatives. In 2021, I was an incubatee at
Nutrihub and got the RKVY funding that year.
• Farmer connect: Nutrihub builds linkages I then started a small manufacturing unit. My
between farmers and entrepreneurs. Farmers venture was funded by HDFC and CapGemini CSR
are provided the expertise and processing tech fund. In 2023, I approached Nutrihub for R&D,
for value additions needed by millet businesses. product development, validation and certification.
Our value proposition is products made from iron-
rich pearl millets (bajra). Bajra has a low shelf
life of about 10 days once it is turned into flour,
beyond which it begins to turn rancid or bitter.
Our work at Nutrihub involved increasing the shelf
life through combined hydrothermal treatment
developed during the incubation at Nutrihub. Now
our products have a shelf life of 6 months and I am
planning to venture into the north Indian markets
beginning with Gurgaon.
Mahesh Londhe
Nutrihub incubatee,
Founder of Agro Zee
millet products, Pune
”
Foxtail millet cheesebread developed at Nutrihub
Key outcomes
Engineering innovations (in the form of
equipment) and food processing technology
development are complementary and need
synchronous effort. When they come together,
it reduces the significant investments that
standalone entrepreneurs would have to make.
Incubators that provide for technical and

marketing support are required across the
country to unleash entrepreneurial activity that
can leverage the production and processing
solutions developed at Nutrihub.
52
Authors
G20 Agriculture Working Group:
• Dr. Smita Sirohi - Joint Secretary (G20)

• Dr. Priti Priyadarshni - Consultant
• Dr. Tannishtha Bardhan - Young Professional
• Dr. Sulakshana Rao C. - Senior Consultant
• Mr. Abhijeet - Consultant
The case studies in Part B: From Farm to Plate have been contributed by a team of writers, editors and program leads
from the Ford Foundation.
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to a diverse spectrum of stakeholders- international organisations,
state governments, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, innovative startups, self- help groups and
resilient farmers for their support and contribution in putting together this document.
All design motifs in this compilation have been handcrafted by Shri Suresh Dhurve, Gond artist from Madhya Pradesh.
53
International Year of Millets (Shree Anna) India Stamp
55
Citation: G20 AWG . 2023. Embracing Millets: The Key to Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition.
Presidency Information Note 1. G20 Agricultural Working Group, Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi.

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Presidency Information Note

Embracing Millets: The Key to Enhancing

Agriculture Working Group

Shri Narendra Modi ”

2.1. Millets are climate resilient

Climate Resilient Traits of Important Millets

Sorghum Proso Millet

Pearl Millet Little Millet

Finger Millet Kodo Millet

Foxtail Millet Barnyard Millet

2.3. Millets offer livelihood

Millets also present a diverse range of market

Top Seven Millet (excluding sorghum) Producing Countries in the World

Millets* Area, Production and Productivity across the Globe in 2021

Area Production Yield

Africa 46.7 38.4 0.8

Americas 6.6 24.0 3.6

Europe 0.7 1.7 2.7

Oceania 0.6 1.7 2.8

World 71.9 91.5 1.3

Note: *includes Sorghum

Millet Production (in million tonnes), 2018–2021

Source: FAOSTAT. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL (accessed on 9 Sept. 2023)

Changes in the Productivity of Millets in the World

1961 1991 2021

Source: FAOSTAT. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL (accessed on 9 Sept. 2023)

Sorghum, Millets and Wheat Trade for G20 Countries, 2005-2020

Sorghum Millets Wheat (Secondary Axis)

Source: FAOSTAT. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL (accessed on 6 Feb. 2023)

Jammu and Kashmir

Pearl Millet Sorghum Barnyard Millet

Foxtail Millet Proso Millet Browntop Millet

Little Millet Finger Millet Kodo Millet

Origin and distribution:

Nutritional and health importance:

Origin and distribution:

Origin and distribution:

Nutritional and health importance:

Mineral Composition of Major Millets (in mg/100g)

Millet Iron Calcium Zinc Phosphorus Magnesium

Pearl Millet 6.4 27.4 2.8 289 124

*The information has been compiled from

Origin and distribution: Nutritional and health importance:

Origin and distribution:

Nutritional and health importance:

Did You Know

Origin and distribution: Nutritional and health importance:

Area and production in India:

Origin and distribution:

Origin and distribution:

Nutritional and health importance:

Origin and distribution:

Nutritional and health importance:

Mineral Composition of Minor Millets (in mg/100g)

Millet Iron Calcium Zinc Phosphorus Magnesium

Foxtail Millet 2.8 31 2.4 290 81

Little Millet 1.3 16.1 1.8 130 91

Kodo Millet 2.3 15.3 1.6 101 122

Browntop Millet 0.7 0.01 - - -

**The information has been compiled from -