Q.1 Sir, could you please tell our readers about the market potential for the processing of Jowar (Sorghum) & Bajra (Pearl Millet)-based products?

As we speak today, the Government of India is preparing for the International Year of Millets leading all the millet growing countries in the world. Jowar (Sorghum) and Bajra (Pearl Millet) occupy nearly ≥ 80% of area and production under millets in India and the world. Therefore, any improvement in production, processing and value addition of millets begins with interventions in these crops. ICAR-IIMR has pioneered the efforts for demand creation through a successful value chain model developed to cover the entire gamut of activities from production to consumption.

A recent study by ICAR-IIMR on the market potential has revealed that, among the millets, Jowar and Bajra account for more than 1/5th of millet products available in the market with their prices ranging from ₹130-₹145. More than half of the processing and value addition in these crops is done under the unorganized sector while the remaining is done under startups and FMCGs. The value-added products are witnessing an increase in the growth rate(s) ranging between 6% for baked products/extruded snacks, etc. to 12% for flakes and puffs among these crops. The study also revealed that the value addition in Jowar and Bajra accounted for 2-5% of their total production. The recent statistics reveal that, Jowar and Bajra account for more than 80% of exports both by value and volume of exports. Therefore, the intervention in this crops can tap the potential at national and international levels.

Q.2 Could you please tell us about the support and facilities provided by ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad to micro food processing enterprises?

ICAR-IIMR provides the following services to micro-food processing enterprises:

• Providing quality seed material
• R&D facility for product development
• Incubation and financial facilitation
• Technology licensing and commercialization
• Production facility to startups/incubatees
• Food testing facilities
• Training and capacity building of FPOs, startups, and entrepreneurs
• Market support through captive market opportunities
• Institutional linkages towards orientation for export markets

Q.3 What are the major value-added products that can be made from Jowar & Bajra processing?

The following are the value-added products of Jowar and Bajra

• Staples: Roti and flour
• Breakfast cereals: Flakes, Muesli, Vermicelli
• Bakery Products: Biscuits, Cookies, Muffins, Cakes, Croissants, Pizza base
• Confectionery: Nutribars, Laddu
• Snacks: Puffs, Murukkus, Nibbles, Crackers, Fritters, Kurkures
• Ready to Cook foods: Idli mix, Dosa mix, soup mix, Upma mix
• Miscellaneous: Khakra puffs, Millet salads

However, Rawa, cookies and flour are fast-moving value-added products of Jowar & Bajra.

Q.4 Could you please tell us about the Jowar & Bajra-based research and development carried out by ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, and the interesting research outcomes that you have come across in all these years?

ICAR-IIMR, the erstwhile Directorate of Sorghum research (DSR) has made tremendous contribution in the field of production, processing, value addition of sorghum including the alternative uses of sorghum in the country. Altogether 35 Sorghum Hybrids; 32 Sorghum Varieties have been released through the AICRP system including 1 Sweet Sorghum Hybrid, 2 Sweet Sorghum Varieties and 3 Single-cut Forage Varieties; and 2 Multi-cut Hybrids besides about 175 State Varieties have been released through various SAUs. Sustainable production, protection, processing and seed technologies across cropping systems and agro-ecological zones for enhanced production and utilization of Sorghum in food, feed, fodder and biofuel sectors have been developed by the institute. ICAR-IIMR has developed a successful millet value chain in Sorghum and studied the suitability of Sorghum for biscuits, bakery products & supply chain management issues.

The institute has established a centre of excellence on Sorghum, the first of its kind in the country which was later extended to all millets. Through its TBI, the institute is contributing to the success of the National Innovation System, by providing the right ambience and infrastructure for nurturing innovation, technical skills and entrepreneurial talents of thousands of millets stakeholders by training and mentoring the startups in the millet sector under different programs like NEST and NGRAIN supported by RKVY-RAFTAAR. ICAR-IIMR has developed 60+ technologies which are commercialized to the start-ups/industry partners through technology licensing. The institute provides handholding support to start-ups towards upscaling their business by enabling them with production facilities through common facility centre at Nutrihub-IIMR..

Q.5 With the immense experience that you have gathered over the period, how do you think the PMFME Scheme would be able to empower micro food processing enterprises?

The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme was launched with the objective of enhancing the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector and support Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Producers Cooperatives along their entire value chain. Millet forms an important and emerging segment in food processing industry and supporting the millet processing and value addition is of utmost importance given the International Year of Millets 2023.

The PMFME Scheme is carefully designed to address the challenges in the food processing sector and hence, it is promoting the formalization of micro units through the Government’s support. Increased access to common services like common processing facility, laboratories, storage, packaging, marketing, and incubation services & strengthening of institutions, research, and training in the food processing sector are important objectives which are essential to millet processing as the millet industry is at a preliminary stage while the demand for millets and their products has been burgeoning in the recent years. Therefore, the Scheme is of great benefit to the millet business as it supports to foster the demand creation, achieve the balance of demand and supply of raw materials and millet products.

The One District One Product (ODOP) approach under the PMFME Scheme has identified areas where millets as a distinct product and/or in combination with other products can attain a stimulus to boost the millet processing and value addition. The millet industry is an emerging market but the due to lack of upscaling in the sector, the expected benefits are not fully reaped by millet entrepreneurs. However, with the PMFME Scheme, the millet start-ups shall expand their businesses through a seamless availability of raw materials and produce the finished products for the markets.

Q.6 What would be your advice to aspiring food processing entrepreneurs?

The millet industry presents with the new age opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to set up their business and tap the potential of millets at national and international levels. The Government is supporting the start-up ecosystem with several schemes through the establishment of incubation centres under DST-NIDHI, RKVY-RAFTAAR, BIRAC-BIONEST, etc. The start-ups can avail the benefit under any of these schemes.

Nutrihub-TBISC, the commercial façade of ICAR-IIMR has a start of art facility for incubation centre and is supporting the millet-based start-ups in the country under its flagship programs like NEST and NGRAIN by facilitation of the grant-in-aid up to ₹25 lakhs alongside providing them with incubation and technology licensing. Aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas may contact Nutrihub, ICAR-IIMR to avail 360° handholding for scaling up their business and orient towards export markets to tap the potential at national and international markets in the wake of the International Year of Millets, 2023.

About Dr. B Dayakar Rao

Dr B Dayakar Rao, currently serving as a Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIMR and CEO, Nutrihub is a renowned agricultural scientist with a rich experience of more than three decades with a specialization in processing, value addition of millets and commercialisation. Dr. Dayakar has been instrumental in establishing a dedicated Technology Business Incubator, Nutrihub-TBI hosted at ICAR-IIMR to help Nutricereal start-ups to grow in a streamlined fashion by providing them with the required technology and business support system. He has contributed immensely towards building a successful millet value chain ecosystem with end-to-end solutions for creating demand for millets in the states of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and supporting the Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand in replicating the successful millet value chain to boost the millet cultivation and promotion in these states. Dr. Dayakar has successfully developed 60+ technologies, 50+ value added products, and created 200+ recipes under various research projects and commercialized them through Nutrihub-IIMR. Through Nutrihub-IIMR, he has mentored 400+ start-ups, incubated more than 200 of them with financial facilitation of about 7 crores (grant in aid) with more than 150 technologies transferred to these start-ups/entrepreneurs. Dr. Dayakar has to his credit several books, research papers and bulletins and has about 2 patents, 3 copyrights and 8 trademarks.

About ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad

Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) is a premier agricultural research institute engaged in basic and strategic research on Sorghum and other millets under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). IIMR coordinates and facilitates Millets research at national level through the All India Coordinated Research Projects on Millets, Pearl Millet and Small Millets and provides linkages with various national and international agencies.

ICAR-IIMR with its AICRPs on Sorghum, Pearl Millet and Small Millets has been instrumental in developing high yielding varieties and hybrids of Sorghum and Pearl Millet and high yielding varieties of Small Millets, as well as novel production and product development technologies. The Indian Institute of Millets Research conducts basic and strategic research, while the applied research and pilot extension work is undertaken in a network mode by the All-India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Program with 21 centers spread over 10 states, the All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project with 14 centres located in 10 states, and the All India Coordinated Small Millets Improvement Project with 13 centres of located in 9 small millet growing states with its Headquarter at IIMR (coordinating units).