In the International Year of Millets 2023, Telangana is riding high by occupying fifth place in the country in millet exports to other nations.
Though at a very limited scale, the state exported 1,680 metric tonnes of millets in the year 2022-23 with orders worth Rs 29 crore. Gujarat tops the charts with 78,106 MTs of exports, followed by Maharashtra (50,486 MTs), Bihar (19,917 MTs) and West Bengal at 12,587 MTs of exports. India exported a total of 1,69,049 MTs of millets.
In Telangana, districts such as Medak and Rangareddy have large potential. While some states have launched their ‘millet missions’, Telangana introduced millet-based meals in the food distribution programme for underprivileged students and pregnant mothers. This programme was acknowledged by Niti Aayog as one of the best examples of prompting millet-based foods for health benefits, an official said.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) created a millet-specific web portal with information about millet, their health benefits, production and export statistics and a millet exporter’s directory. APEDA has also organised a comprehensive global marketing campaign highlighting India’s potential and e-catalogues of 30 importing countries and 21 millet-producing states have been released as a result.
A virtual trade fair for millets has been developed and made available to exporters and importers from around the world, allowing them to interact and negotiate business deals on a single platform.
APEDA has also organised participation in international trade fairs such as BIOFACH in Germany, Gulfood in Dubai, Natural Products Expo West in the United States, International Food and Drink and BSM in the United Kingdom, SIAL Food in Canada, and Seoul Food and Hotel in South Korea.