Action Plan to Promote Exports of Millets and Value-added Products of Millets

The millets export promotion programme also comes at the backdrop of the proposal of India that was supported by 72 countries which lead to the UNGA declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets.

Exports of Millets and Value-added Products of Millets UPSC Relevance

Exports of Millets: Exports of Millets and Value-added Products of Millets is very important for the Indian economy in general and Agriculture section in particular. Exports of Millets and Value-added Products of Millets is relevant for UPSC Prelims Exam and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 3- Indian Economy).

Exports of Millets and Value-added Products of Millets in News

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has prepared a comprehensive strategy to promote Indian millets exports across the globe commencing December 2022.
Ministry’s apex agricultural export promotion body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has prepared the action plan to Promote Exports of Millets and Value-added Products of Millets.

International Year of Millets (IYoM) 2023 and Export of Millets

The millets export promotion programme also comes at the backdrop of the proposal of India that was supported by 72 countries which lead to the UNGA declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets (IYoM) on March 5, 2021.
The government is currently organising IYoM-2023 at domestic and international level to popularize Indian millets as well as its value-added products across the world and make it a peoples’ movement.

Action Plan to Exports of Millets and Value-added Products of Millets

For exports of Indian millets’ promotion, centre has planned to facilitate participation of exporters, farmers and traders in 16 international trade expos and Buyer Seller Meets (BSMs).
Indian missions abroad would be roped in branding and publicity of Indian millets, identification of international chefs as well as potential buyers such as departmental stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets for organizing B2B meetings and direct tie-ups.
In addition, Ambassadors of Foreign missions in India of the targeted countries and potential importers would also be invited to showcase various millet-based products, including Ready to Eat millet products and facilitate B2B meetings.
APEDA has planned to organize millet promotional activities in South Africa, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sydney, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and United States of America.
As part of the promotion of Indian millets, APEDA has planned to showcase millets and its value added product at various global platforms such as-
- Gulfood 2023,
- Foodex,
- Seoul Food & Hotel Show,
- Saudi Agro Food,
- Fine Food Show in Sydney (Australia),
- Belgium’s Food & Beverages Show,
- Germany’s BioFach and Anuga Food Fair,
- San Francisco’s Winter Fancy Food Show, etc.
APEDA would also organise food sampling and tasting at the retail level and in key local bazaars of targeted countries where individual, household consumers can gain familiarity with millet products.
Government is also mobilizing start-ups for export promotion of value-added products in the Ready to Eat (RTE) and Ready to Serve (RTS) category such as noodles, pasta, breakfast cereals mix, biscuits, cookies, snacks, sweets, etc.
As per the centre’s millet promotion strategy, major international retail supermarkets like Lulu group, Carrefour, Al Jazira, Al Maya, Walmart, etc. would also be roped in to establish millet corner for branding and promotion of millets.

India’s Millet Production

There are 16 major varieties of millet, which are produced and exported, including-
- Sorghum (Jowar),
- Pearl Millet (Bajra),
- Finger Millet (Ragi)
- Minor Millets (Kangani),
- Proso Millet (Cheena),
- Kodo Millet (Kodo),
- Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/Jhangora),
- Little Millet (Kutki),
- Two Pseudo Millets (BuckWheat/Kuttu),
- Ameranthus (Chaulai) and
- Brown Top Millet.
India is one of the leading producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent in the global production.
As per FAO, world production of millets in the year 2020 was 30.464 million metric tones (MMT) and India’s share was 12.49 MMT, which accounts to 41 percent of the total millet production.
India recorded 27 percent growth in millet production in 2021-22 as compared to millet production in the previous year was 15.92 MMT.
India’s top five millet producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

India’s Millet Exports

Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production. Exports of millets from India include mainly whole grain and the export of value-added products of millets from India is negligible.
However, it is estimated that the millets market is set to grow from its current market value of more than USD 9 billion to over USD 12 billion by 2025.
As per the DGCIS data, India registered a growth of 8.02% in the export of millets in the financial year 2021-22 as the export of millets was 159,332.16 metric tonne against 147,501.08 metric tonne during the same period last year.
India’s major millet exporting countries are U.A.E, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, U.K and U.S.A. The varieties of millets exported by India include Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat.
The major millet importing countries in the world are Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Italy, the U.S.A, United Kingdom, Brazil and Netherlands.

What is APEDA?

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, established by the Government of India in December, 1985
APEDA is the premier body of export promotion of fresh vegetables and fruits.