Lok Sabha Question No. 44 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Demand of  Millet-based Products
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *44

ANSWERED ON 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2025

## DEMAND OF MILLET-BASED PRODUCTS

## *44. DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to boost consumer awareness and demand for millet-based products domestically and internationally;
- (b) the manner in which the Government address the cases where beneficiaries fail to meet the requirement of 10% annual sales growth;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expand the Production Linked Incentive Schemes for Millet-based Products (PLISMBP) initiative beyond its current tenure of  Financial Year 202227; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *44  FOR  ANSWER  ON  06th  FEBRUARY,  2025  REGARDING 'DEMAND OF MILLET-BASED PRODUCTS'

(a): The steps taken to enhance consumer awareness and demand for millet-based products at both domestic and international levels are as under:

(i)        Following a proposal by India, backed by more than 70 countries, the United Nations  General  Assembly,  at  its  75th  session  in  March  2021,  declared  2023  as  the International Year of Millets. The year-long celebration successfully raised awareness about the  nutritional  and  health  benefits  of  millet  consumption,  the  suitability  of  millets  for cultivation  under  adverse  and  changing  climatic  conditions,  and  the  benefits  of  creating sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.

(ii)      During its Presidency, India organised the two-day Global Millets Conference in March 2023 in New Delhi bringing together participants from more than 102 countries. The global conference, dedicated to the IYM 2023, facilitated discourse on important issues related to  millets  which  included  its  production  and  consumption,  nutritional  benefits,  value  chain development, market linkages, and research and development.

(iii)      During  India's  G20  presidency  millet-based  products  were  promoted  by including millet recipes in the menu that was served to the global leaders during meetings of various working groups and gala dinner in September 2023.

(iv)      During  the  100 th G20  meeting  under  India's  presidency,  the  meeting  of agricultural chief scientists (MACS), reached the unanimous decision to launch an initiative named  MAHARISHI.  This  stands  for  "Millets  and  Other  Ancient  Grains  International Research Initiative."This initiative is aimed to bolster research and awareness concerning agrobiodiversity, food security, and nutrition, aligning with the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYoM 2023) programme initiated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

⁠(v)      One component of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries  (PLISFPI)  focuses  on  Millet-Based  Products  (MBP),  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.  800 crores. The objectives of the PLI Scheme for Millet-Based Products (PLISMBP) are to increase the  use  of  millets  in  food  products  and  promote  their  value  addition  by  incentivizing  the manufacturing and sale of selected millet-based products in both domestic and export markets. As on date, out of total allocation of Rs. 800 crores for PLISMBP, an amount of Rs.793.27 crore has been approved to incentivise 29 applicants, which includes 8 large and 21 Small & Medium entities.

(vi)     'Millet Mahotsav' were organised in 30 districts of various States/UTs as a part of International Year of Millet (IYOM 2023) to provide support for micro food processing entrepreneurs, particularly those engaged in the processing of millet products. It aimed to foster start-ups, entrepreneurs and boost the micro sector of the food industry.

(vii)     Further,  Department  of  Commerce  (DoC)  through  Agricultural  &  Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organised Trade Fairs, exhibitions and Millet conclave for awareness, usage and export promotion of millets. Under IYOM 2023, a host of activities were conducted by DoC through APEDA in close association with Indian

Embassies/Missions and Government departments, which included millet themed participation in international trade fairs, sampling events, millet galleries, international buyer seller meets etc.  The  campaign in  print/electronic  media  for  promotion  and  branding  of  Indian  MilletsShree  Anna in  key  international  markets  during  prominent  trade  fairs  was  also  initiated  in collaboration with India Brand Equity Foundation.

(viii)    National  Institute  of  Food  Technology,  Entrepreneurship  and  Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T) organised 'National Millet Summit' on the theme 'Millets: Science, Technology & Innovation' on 6 th & 7 th May 2023 at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai.

- (ix)      National  Institute  of  Food  Technology,  Entrepreneurship  and  Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) organised 'International Conference on Millets for Achieving Nutritional and Economic Security' during 24-26 August, 2023 at Kundli, Haryana.

(x)       NIFTEM-T  and  ICAR  -  National  Rice  Research  Institute  (NRRI),  Cuttak organized  'National  Millet  Expo-2023'  on  6 th October  2023  at  MKCG  Platinum  Jubilee Auditorium, NRRI, Cuttak.

(xi) Ministry also organized six (6) Promotional Events, focused on Millets through Industry Associations. The details of the events is attached at Annexure .

(xii) Global Food Event 'World Food India 2023' during 3rd - 5th November, 2023 in New Delhi with Millets as one of its key focus areas was organized. The event was intended to provide Indian producers/ processors/ institutions a platform to collaborate and partner with global stakeholders.

(xiii) Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been incentivizing setting up/expansion  of  Food  Processing  Industries  including  processing  of  millet-based  products through  its  Central  Sector  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  SAMPADA  Yojana  (PMKSY)  Scheme, Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and Centrally sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme across the country.

(b): The Scheme guidelines of Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Millet Based Products (PLISMBP)  provides  that  applicant  shall  be  required  to  achieve  minimum  Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10% on sales of the eligible products from the base year for grant of incentive. If the applicant is not able to achieve the prescribed minimum growth in sales for a particular year, no incentive will be payable for that year. However, the applicant can claim incentive for the subsequent year subject to achieving 10% CAGR as per the scheme guidelines.

(c) & (d): Presently, there is no such proposal.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *44  FOR  ANSWER  ON  06th  FEBRUARY,  2025  REGARDING 'DEMAND OF MILLET-BASED PRODUCTS'

## Ministry supported Promotional Events, focused on Millets through Industry Associations

|   S .No | Organizer                                                     | Details of event                                                                                                          | Date       | Place                  |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|------------------------|
|       1 | Knowledge Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)             | Conclave on Emerging opportunities in Food Processing Schemes and Incentives                                              | 21.06.2023 | Nagpur, Maharashtra    |
|       2 | PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI)                 | Ensuring Food Security through Processing and Export                                                                      | 21.08.2023 | New Delhi              |
|       3 | Associated Chambers of Commerce &Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) | Conference on Strengthening Food Processing                                                                               | 26.06.2023 | Mehsana, Gujarat       |
|       4 | ASSOCHAM                                                      | Conference on Strengthening Food Processing in Saurashtra region                                                          | 26.05.2023 | Rajkot, Gujarat        |
|       5 | Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI)       | Food Processor's Round Table: Finance, Technology &Market                                                                 | 06.12.2023 | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
|       6 | KCCI                                                          | Conclave on Emerging Opportunities in Food Processing- Schemes & Incentives Exports- Food Safety, quality & Certification | 25.11.2023 | Surat, Gujarat         |

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