Plan in works to be among top 3 millets exporters

New Delhi: India is drawing up a roadmap to figure among the top three exporters of millets by 2025, improving upon its fifth rank at present. The commerce and industry ministry is working to promote about 200 startups in millet products, standardise and improve the shelf life of millets such as bajra, ragi and jowar, and their products, and facilitate tie-ups of exporters with global supermarkets and retail chains such as LULU and Carrefour.

Canada, Russia and Ukraine are the top three exporters of millets, followed by the US.

“Our aim is to be in the top three exporters in the world by 2025,” said an official aware of the development. Efforts are on by Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Indian Institute of Millets Research to improve shelf life and quality of millets in the supply chain, he said.


At present, millets are exported primarily for fodder.

Global exports of millets increased to $402.7 million in 2020 from $380 million in 2019. In 2020-21, India exported millets worth $28.8 million against $26.7 million in 2019-20, mainly to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nepal, Oman, the UK, Japan, Taiwan and South Africa.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has promoted 13 new millet startups.
“APEDA will push value-added and processed forms of millets globally, targeting various hypermarkets and retail chains. We have identified top 50 countries, exporters, importers and supply sources linking production bases,” said APEDA chairman M Angamuthu.

Exports are likely to increase in the peak season from November to March 2023, according to the official.
“The share of millet based value added products is expected to increase 10-20% per year in the export of ready to eat and ready to cook categories under the head ‘Cereal Preparations,” said the official, who did not wish to be identified.

The APEDA has promoted 13 new millet startups which have made millet products for all age groups at prices ranging between Rs 5-400.

The government’s strategy comes ahead of the prelaunch of the International Year of Millets 2023 in Delhi later this year and includes organising food sampling and tasting at the retail level in supermarkets and key local bazaars, besides branding and publicity in the targeted countries.