Lok Sabha Question No. 5088 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: CSIR’s Contributions during International Year of Millets
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait, Shri Shashank Mani, Shri Devusinh Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5088 (ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025)

## CSIR'S CONTRIBUTIONS DURING INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS

5088.  Shri Shashank Mani:

Shri Devusinh Chauhan:

Shri Dileshwar Kamait:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  has  made contributions during the International Year of Millets to popularize millets and advance millet research, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)   whether funds have been earmarked by CSIR specifically for millet research, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore - a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has been carrying  out  research  work  on  millets,  covering  both  basic  and  applied research. The institute is carrying out extensive research work on millets under different verticals, such as establishing the health benefits, processing of millets for value addition, developing different products and technologies on millets including machinery development.

The significant initiatives undertaken by CSIR in popularising millets and engaging in Millet research during the International Year of Millets is as follows:

-  CSIR  has  launched  a  mission  project  on  Millets  with  the  following objectives:
- o Nutritional profiling of 100 varieties of millet
- o Promotion of region-specific millet products
- o Shelf life enhancement of millet's products
- o Global  awareness  of  the  health  and  nutritional  attributes  of millets

CSIR-CFTRI is the nodal laboratory and nine other CSIR laboratories are participating in this mission-mode project.

-  Around 130 varieties of millets collected from various millet growing areas of the country have been analysed for nutritional composition, nutraceutical  value,  bio-accessibility  of  minerals  like  calcium,  iron and  zinc,  protein  and  starch  digestibility,  amino  acid  composition, lipid profile, available lysine and anti-nutrients like phytic acid, oxalic acid, trypsin inhibitors. Released varieties popularly grown, hybrids, biofortified  varieties  and  varieties  from  the  tribal  regions  were collected for analysis. The data for each variety was compiled in the form of a book entitled 'Millets of Bharath Vol 1' which was released in  October  2024.  This  study  will  identify  millets  with  a  better nutritional  profile  that  could  be  popularized.  Further,  the  selected varieties were subjected to processing like refining, popping, malting etc., to understand the status of the nutrients and anti-nutrients.
-  The survey on millet consumption patterns was conducted in urban, rural and tribal cohorts of Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha and western Himalayan millet growing and consuming regions. During the  survey,  around  sixty  recipes  for  millet-based  traditional  foods were collected. These foods were prepared in the laboratory and the nutritional profile along with the Effective Glycaemic Index (eGI) has been determined in the laboratory. The millet-based traditional foods along with the nutritional profile is being compiled in the form of a compendium.
-  Two millet-based products viz., Siddu and nuggets have been identified in Poshan  Abhiyan  and  Mid  Day  Meal  (MDM)  programs  to  tackle malnutrition in the Himalayan region.
-  To promote the health benefits of millets, convenient and palatable products have been developed, including:
- o Millet-based beverages, enhanced  with  xerobiotics, spice bioactives, and indolamines for added nutrition and flavour, and
- o Ready-to-eat products, such as millet noodles and semolina, to offer menu diversity and convenience for the target population.
-  Large-scale  extraction  of  Edible  oil  from  millet  bran  has  also  been achieved.
-  Blockchain technology for Millet Supply Chain and Life Cycle Assessment for Ragi in Kerala is completed and the survey is being extended to other states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
-  Bio-degradable cutlery using the milling by-product from millet milling has been developed. Edible cutlery from finger millet has also been developed, paving the way for innovation in circular economy in millet processing.
-  An  innovative  animal  fodder  formulation  has  been  developed  using delignified  cellulose  derived  from  millet  by-products.  This  enhanced fodder  offers:  a)  an  Improved  nutritional  profile  and  b)  enhanced digestibility, providing a high-quality nutritious feed option for livestock.
-  Sensors for the detection and quantification of gluten content in milletbased  products  have  been  developed.  Sensors  for  the  detection  of mycotoxins have also been developed.
-  A novel pheromone formulation for managing stored pests has been successfully developed and tested. The formulation has been scaled up  for  industrial  production,  paving  the  way  for  its  commercial application in pest control.
-  A co-fumigation System (Biofumigants & Ozone) for the prevention of stored grain pests of Sorghum and Pearl millets is also in place.
-  To promote the adoption of millets, capacity-building initiatives have been undertaken, including:
- o Training and mentoring programs for start-ups focused on milletbased products
- o Raising awareness through published articles in magazines
- o Broadcasting millet-related content on All India Radio
- o Telecasting two live programs on Doordarshan

These efforts aim to popularize millet and encourage their inclusion in mainstream diets.

-  CSIR-CFTRI  co-organized  two  prominent  conferences  that  brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss key issues and opportunities related to millets, nutritional security, and economic development. The two conferences are:
- o TRIMSAFE-9th IFCON
- o Millets for Achieving Nutritional and Economic Security
-  As part of globalization and popularization of millet products, a multimillet bun with 5 millets was developed co-partnering with McDonald's, which was launched on September 04, 2023.
- (b) CSIR  has  earmarked/allocated  Rs.19.00  crores  for  the  Millet Mission project for a period of 2 years (2023-2024 to 2024-2025).

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