MoU to promote commercial cultivation of Millet, envisages creation of market linkages with farmers, FPOs

NEW DELHI, 08 September 2021: For increasing exports through quality production and processing, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research (ICAR-IIMR) which is expected to boost value addition and farmers’ income.

The key focus of the MoU would be to promote commercial cultivation of processable varieties developed by ICAR-IIMR for exports which are expected to promote the value addition of millets, a cereal with high nutritive value.

MoU also envisages the creation of market linkages with farmers as well as Farmer Producers Organizations. A joint coordination committee with representatives from APEDA and ICAR-IIMR would be set up to achieve the goals envisaged under the MoU.

The objective of the MoU is to build the export-centric ecosystem with the requisite supply chain linkages, technological repository, clinical studies, awareness creation, policy changes, and a pipeline of entrepreneurs.

Both APEDA and ICAR-IIMR would work for developing knowledge on the understanding of markets, consumer preferences, emerging segments, analyze export competitiveness, price volatility of markets, and market intelligence on standards, regulations, and trade policies.

Creation of a Millet Export Promotion Forum in collaboration with all the key stakeholders for identifying export clusters to source sizable quantities of produce and for linking stakeholders with FPO’s would be taken up jointly by both the organizations of repute.

MoU gives thrust on work relating to sensitization, promotion, and policy advocacy to the Government departments for bringing new policy changes and convergences in favour of millet exports.

Both the organizations would jointly develop an export strategy and accordingly conduct training programmes for the existing millet processors and entrepreneurs on various export policies and schemes for increasing exports of millets.

Development and Implementation of novel frameworks such as Traceability, Artificial intelligence, etc. would be taken for promoting millets exports. Handholding activities for the Startups for export compliance are also envisaged under MoU.

Profiling of Millets growers or farmers in all major millets growing regions of the country and strengthening of the seed supply chain would be taken up by ICAR-IIMR.

Millets are cereal crops with high nutritive value and are categorized as small-seeded grasses. The key varieties of millets include Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Ragi, Small Millet, Foxtail Millet, Barnyard Millet, Kodo Millet, and others.

Recently, the United Nations General Assembly has passed the resolution to celebrate the International Year of Millets (IYM) in 2023, to promote the health benefits of millets and their suitability under the changing climatic conditions globally. As IYM is round the corner, it is expected that the demand of millets will grow exponentially in many countries.

ICAR-IIMR has been working along the entire millet value chain. Through several projects, ICAR-IIMR has piloted several interventions to build the value chain for these forgotten crops, and thus to revive the millets for Nutritional security in the country.

Considering the potential of increasing exports of Millets and Millet products and the focus given by the Government for the development of the millet sector, APEDA has been formulating a long-term strategy with ICAR-IIMR and other stakeholders like the National Institute of Nutrition, CFTRI and FPOs for the promotion of Millets and Millet products.

To boost exports prospects of various agricultural produce, APEDA has signed a series of MoUs with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and others.

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