Overview of Millets
Millets are hardy crops that can thrive in various climatic conditions, drought, and pest resistance. They are categorized into major millets like maize, pearl millet, and finger millet, and minor millets like foxtail millet, little millet, kodo millet, proso millet, and barnyard millet.
History and Objectives of IIMR
- Established: 1958
- Affiliation with ICAR: 1966
- Renamed as IIMR: 2014, continues to work with ICAR.
The IIMR aims to identify and implement easily applicable technologies to improve farmers’ economic status and simplify millet cultivation through new techniques. It also focuses on enhancing market opportunities through value addition and providing commercial benefits.
Training Programs and Opportunities
NUTRIHUB offers various training programs and support for starting new ventures and agri-startups:
- NEST: Target Audience: Youth, potential startups, existing millet business entrepreneurs. Funding: Up to ₹5 lakhs for new startups.
- N-GRAIN: Eligibility: Registered companies in India. Benefits: Helps startups sell products, improve economically, and obtain bank loans. Funding: Selected companies can receive up to ₹25 lakhs.
- Startup Ignition: Frequency: Monthly on the fourth Friday. Duration: One day. Fee: ₹2,000. Content: Production, harvesting, post-harvest technologies, machinery, procurement, value addition, and marketing of nutrient-rich millets.
- Cooking with Millets: Frequency: Monthly on the second Friday. Fee: ₹2,000. Content: Preparing millet-based dishes like dosa, idli, upma, biscuits, cakes, etc. Target Audience: Homemakers, food industry workers, and entrepreneurs.
Importance of Millets
Recent awareness about the health benefits of millets has been increasing. Despite this, their usage in modern lifestyles is still low. These training programs aim to correct this by promoting millet consumption.
Success Story
Namakkal Agricultural Officer Soundararajan, a certified agricultural advisor on millets, shared his positive experience at IIMR and emphasized the value of the training programs.
Call to Action
Millet entrepreneurs, farmer producer groups, and farmers are encouraged to participate in these training programs and benefit from the funding opportunities provided by IIMR.
Contact: Director, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Phone: 0402-4599382.
IIMR
