Entrepreneurial Drive towards Millets

Meghana Narayan, a Delhi-based entrepreneur, is among those embracing the Millet revolution. Growing up in Bengaluru and participating in competitive swimming, Meghana understood the value of a robust physique and stamina. The lack of nutritious alternatives in the market motivated her to create healthier options for children’s diets based on her daily consumption of ragi (finger millet) porridge. As a result of Meghana’s mission to eliminate refined sugar, artificial colours, and preservatives from children’s food, her venture transformed into a millet-based business.

The Green Revolution’s Legacy

The Green Revolution of the 1960s transformed India’s agricultural landscape, focusing primarily on increasing rice and wheat production to achieve food self-sufficiency. After independence, the country was plagued by famines, floods, and droughts, which resulted in food shortages. Using foreign aid to import rice and wheat prompted the government to do so. To boost domestic production, India invested in research and development, irrigation networks, and guaranteed crop procurement as a result of its financial strain caused by imports. Due to increased income prospects, rice and wheat became the preferred crops for farmers, resulting in a decline in millet cultivation from 35 million hectares to 15 million hectares.

The Resurgence of Millets

Millets have gained new life due to the government’s newfound belief in their health, nutritional, cultivation, and environmental benefits. Some farmers sell their millet crops directly to entrepreneurs despite announcing minimum yearly support prices. Since millet is not as palatable as rice and wheat, these entrepreneurs face the challenge of creating consumer-friendly millet products.

Indian perceptions of themselves as rice and wheat-consuming nations are changing due to the rise of millets. Millets are being recognized for their nutritional value and environmental sustainability, with the United Nations declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets.

Entrepreneurs like Meghana Narayan are inadvertently popularizing millet-based products by offering healthier options for children’s diets. As the nation rediscovers the potential of millets, it sets the stage for a culinary revolution that could reshape India’s food landscape and prioritize nutrition, health, and sustainability for future generations.

The Millets Family

Major millets
Sorghum (Jowar)
Pearl Millet (Bajra)
Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua)
Minor millets
Kodo Millet (Kodo)
Proso Millet (Cheena)
Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun)
Little Millet (Kutki)
Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/ Jhangora)
Pseudo millets
Amaranth (Chaulai)
Buckwheat (Kuttu)

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