Lok Sabha Question No. 1016 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: International Year of Millets
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS

## 1016.   DR. PRABHA MALLIKARJUN:

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

(a) whether the Government has taken note of the pioneering initiative of Karnataka, which declared 2017 as the 'Year of Millets', thereby laying the foundation for India's successful proposal to the United Nations to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the  key  steps  undertaken  by  the  Ministry  to  promote  millet-based  value  addition, processing  enterprises  and  branding  initiatives  during  and  after  the  International  Year  of Millets; and

(c) whether the Ministry proposes to establish millet-focused processing clusters, incubation centres, or Mega Food Parks in major millet-producing States like Karnataka to sustain momentum and enhance farmer incomes through value addition and export promotion and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a): As informed by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, to create domestic and global demand and to provide nutritional food to the people, Government of India had proposed to United Nations for declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets (IYM). The proposal of India  was  supported  by  72  countries  and  the  United  Nations  General  Assembly  (UNGA) declared 2023 as International Year of Millets during March 2021.

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

The steps taken to promote consumption and demand for millet-based products are as under:

⁠(i)     One component of PLISFPI focuses on Millet-Based Products (MBP), with an outlay of Rs.  800  crores,  for  implementation  during  2022-27.  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.

(ii)   'Millet  Mahotsav'  were  organised  in  30  districts  of  various  States/UTs  as  a  part  of International  Year  of  Millet  (IYM  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.

(iii) Under PMFME Scheme, Millet and its products have been identified as One District One Product  (ODOP) in  21 districts  of  11  States. 17  Incubation  Centers  approved  in  10  States having  Millet  processing  lines.  As  on  31.12.2025,  4,612  loans  have  been  sanctioned  with approved subsidy of Rs. 91.20 Cr for millet processing units across the country.

(iv)   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.

(v)      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.

(vi)      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.

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

(viii) 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.

(c): MoFPI  does  not  establish  food  processing  units  on  its  own.  However,  it  provides financial assistance to eligible entrepreneurs for establishing related infrastructure including processing of millet-based products.  These schemes are not region or state specific but demand driven and being implemented across the country including Karnataka. Mega Food Park and Creation of  Infrastructure  for  Agro-processing  Clusters  (APC) components  of PMKSY are aimed at development of such Industries in clusters. The Mega Food Park Scheme has been discontinued by the Ministry since 01.04.2021. As on 31.12.2025, MoFPI has approved 2 Mega Food Parks & 3 APC under PMKSY and 14 incubation centres under PMFME Scheme in the state of Karnataka.

These schemes aim towards creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet which includes storage, transportation, value addition  etc.,  thereby  help  in  providing  better  returns  to  farmers,enhancing  productivity, creating off-farm employment opportunities and enhancing the export of the processed foods

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1016  FOR  ANSWER  ON  05 TH   FEBRUARY,  2026 REGARDING 'INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS'

## 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                                              | 21.06.2023Nagpur, Maharashtra    |
|       2 | PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI)                  | Ensuring Food Security through Processing and Export                                                                      | 21.08.2023New Delhi              |
|       3 | Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) | Conference on Strengthening Food Processing                                                                               | 26.06.2023Mehsana, Gujarat       |
|       4 | ASSOCHAM                                                       | Conference on Strengthening Food Processing in Saurashtra region                                                          | 26.05.2023Rajkot, Gujarat        |
|       5 | Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI)        | Food Processor's Round Table: Finance, Technology &Market                                                                 | 06.12.2023Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
|       6 | KCCI                                                           | Conclave on Emerging Opportunities in Food Processing- Schemes & Incentives Exports- Food Safety, quality & Certification | 25.11.2023Surat, Gujarat         |

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