The Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the government's agri-export promotion body, plans to send an Indian delegation of exporters, start-ups, and farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) to 17 major international events to promote millets and their value-added products in 2023, which the United Nations has designated as the International Year of Millets.
"This is an excellent opportunity to increase our exports because India has very distinct traditional varieties of millets that are popular among health-conscious people. However, much more promotion is needed to increase shipments of value-added millet products," said APEDA Chairman M Angamuthu.
APEDA has set a goal of increasing millet and value-added product exports to $100 million by 2023-24, up from $64.28 million in 2021-22.
In 2020-21, the export of such products was $59.75 million, with a negligible share of value-added products. Despite being the world's leading producer of millets, India's export share of $470 million in 2021 is less than 15%. "India's share of millet exports is now fifth in the world, and we are confident of being among the top three countries in the next two years," he added.
Angamuthu believes that by promoting millets at international events, more demand and awareness will be generated for Indian millets.
According to sources, APEDA intends to participate in 17 fairs, including three in the United States, five in Europe, seven in Asia, and one each in Australia and Africa, beginning on October 15, 2022 at SIAL Food in Paris.
According to sources, the government has asked Indian embassies and high commissions in the UAE, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Kingdom, the United States, Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands to make greater efforts to promote Indian millets because these countries are major importers.
"We will invite potential importers to India, where we will showcase various millet-based products and facilitate B2B meetings. The first such meeting is likely to take place in Delhi in the first week of December," Angamuthu said.
