There are about 6,000 varieties of millets around the world. Millets are a source of energy and proteins for more than a billion people around the world. Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Germany, and Mexico are some of the top millet-importing countries in the world.
Types Of Millets In India And Their Benefits
The various types of millets in India are:-
- Pearl millet (bajra) – This variety of millet is mainly grown and consumed in India and Africa and has a rich content of phosphorous.
- Foxtail millet (kakum)- which has a rich mineral content, and is especially high in iron.
- Kodo (Koden)- which is rich in lecithin, B vitamins, B6 & folic acid as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc.
- Little millet (Kutki)- which is the smallest of the millet fam and is rich in iron.
- Barnyard millet (Jhangora)- which has the highest fiber and iron content amongst fellow millets. It is low in carbohydrates and is a good source of vitamin B-complex.
- Sorghum (jowar) – Rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc, it is widely used all across India.
- Finger millet (ragi)- which has the highest calcium content among millets and grows easily in arid areas.
India’s Millet Production
India is one of the leading producers of millet in the world. It has an estimated share of around 41% in global production. As per FAO, the total production of millets in the world in 2020 stood at 30.464 million metric tons (MMT). However, India with domestic production of 12.49 MMT accounted for 41% of the total millets production.
In 2021-22, India recorded a 27% growth in millets production in comparison to the previous year. India’s top five producing states of millets are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. However, India’s exports
nearly 1% of the total millet production while the export of value-added products of millet from India is negligible.
Latest Policy Decisions
The Commerce Ministry of India, through its apex agricultural exports body, APEDA(Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority), prepared an in-depth strategy to promote Indian millet export globally starting December’22. The backdrop to the millets export promotion program was the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYoM) as proposed by India.
The Government Of India (GOI) is to organize IYoM-2023 at the domestic and international levels in order to popularize Indian millets and the products manufactured from them in the global markets and to educate common people about their benefits. India’s major millet-importing countries are U.A.E, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, U.K, and the U.S.A.
Under The IYoM
The central government has facilitated the participation of exporters, farmers, and traders in 16 international trade expos and Buyer seller Meets (BSMs). The promotion of exports of Indian millet is the prime objective behind this move.
- Indian missions abroad would be roped in for branding and publicity of Indian millets, identifying international chefs and potential buyers such as departmental stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets for organizing B2B meetings and direct tie-ups.
- Ambassadors of foreign missions in India of targeted countries and potential importers would be invited to showcase various millet-based products which include ready-to-eat millet products and to facilitate B2B meetings.
- Apeda has planned to organize millet promotional activities in South Africa, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sydney, Belgium, Germany, the UK, and the US by facilitating the participation of different stakeholders from India through various major food shows, buyer-seller meets, and road shows.
- It also plans to showcase millets and value-added products 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.
If you wish to export or import bulk quantities of millets, you should visit Tradologie.com. Tradologie has 70,000+ registered vendors of agro-commodities in its network. Similarly, it has 600,000+ registered buyers and through the platform, you can buy or sell millets in bulk with ease.
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