Millets-Smart Nutritive Food conclave 2023

December 4, 2022December 4, 2022 MTIMES

New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal will be the chief guest at the ‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ conclave to be held tomorrow (December 5, 2022, Monday). The conclave is organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry through its apex agricultural export promotion body, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) with the aim of promoting millet exports. The conclave is to be a pre-start event of the ‘International Year of Millet – 2023’ (IYoM-2023)

Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal will be the chief guest at the ‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ conclave to be held tomorrow (December 5, 2022, Monday). The conclave is organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry through its apex agricultural export promotion body, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) with the aim of promoting millet exports. The conclave is to be a pre-start event of the ‘International Year of Millet – 2023’ (IYoM-2023).

Key participants in the Millets Smart Nutritive Conclave are supply chain stakeholders such as farmer producer organizations, start-ups, exporters and manufacturers of millet-based value-added products. The conclave will also host an exhibition and B2B meet to showcase Indian millets and millet-based products.

State Minister of Commerce and Industry Smt. Anupriya Patel will be the guest of honor at the Millets Conclave. Among the senior government officials who will be present on the occasion are Union Commerce Minister, Shri Sunil Barthwal, Agriculture Minister, Shri Manoj Ahuja, APEDA Chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Dr. M. Balaji.

The millet export promotion program also comes in the backdrop of India’s proposal supported by 72 countries that led to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYoM) on March 5, 2021. the government is currently organizing IYoM-2023 both domestically and internationally to popularize Indian millet and its value added products worldwide and make it a movement of nations.

At the first of its kind Millet conclave, the government will release an e-catalogue of 30 potential importing countries and 21 millet-producing states of India. A knowledge book on millets prepared in collaboration with Knowledge partner “Yes Bank” will also be released on the occasion. To promote Indian millet exports, the government plans to facilitate the participation of exporters, farmers and traders in 16 international trade exhibitions. and Buyer Seller Meets (BSM).

Under the government’s robust millet promotion strategy, Indian missions abroad would be tied to branding and promoting Indian millets, identifying international chefs and potential buyers such as department stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets for holding B2B meetings and direct tie-ups.

In addition, ambassadors of foreign missions to India from target countries and potential importers were invited to showcase various millet-based products, including Ready to Eat millet products, and facilitate B2B meetings.

The center also plans to organize promotional activities for millets in South Africa, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sydney, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and United States of America by enabling the participation of various stakeholders from India in some major food parades, buyer seller meetings and road shows.

To promote Indian millet, APEDA plans to showcase millet and its value-added product at various global platforms such as Gulfood 2023, Foodex, Seoul Food & Hotel Show, Saudi Agro Food, Sydney (Australia) Fine Food Show, Belgium Food & Beverages Show, German BioFach and Anuga Food Fair, San Francisco Winter Fancy Food Show.

India is one of the leading millet producers in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent of global production. According to FAO, world millet production in 2020 was 30.464 million metric tons (MMT) and India’s share was 12.49 MMT, accounting for 41 percent of total millet production. India has recorded a 27 percent increase in millet production in 2021-22 compared to the previous year’s millet production of 15.92 MMT.

Five Major Millets Food Producing States

The five major millet producing states of India are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The share of millet exports is almost 1% of the total millet production. Millet exports from India mainly include whole grains and exports of value added millet products from India are negligible.

However, the millet market is estimated to grow from a current market value of over $9 billion to over $12 billion by 2025. target countries where individual household consumers can become familiar with millet products.

The Center has created the Nutri Cereals Export Promotion Forum to give impetus to the export of potential products, including millet, and remove bottlenecks in the supply chain of Nutri Cereals.

Millets have better nutritional values compared to highly consumed grains such as rice and wheat. Millets are rich in calcium, iron and fiber, which help in enriching essential nutrients for healthy growth of children. The use of millet in infant formula and nutritional products is also increasing.

According to DGCIS data, India recorded a growth of 8.02% in millet exports in the financial year 2021-22 as millet exports stood at 159,332.16 metric tonnes as against 147,501.08 metric tonnes in the same period last year. The major millet exporting countries in India are UAE, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, UK and USA. Varieties of millets exported from India include Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar and Buckwheat. The main millet importing countries in the world are Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Italy, USA, Great Britain, Brazil and the Netherlands.

There are 16 major millet varieties that are produced and exported including Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi), Minor Millets (Kangani), Millet Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/Jhangora), Small Millet (Kutki), Two Pseudomillets (Buckwheat/Kuttu), Ameranthus (Chaulai) and Brown Millet.

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