Startups prepare value added products from millet, jowar, ragi

- Antenna-Vivek Mehta

- A 500 kg millet protein and energy bar manufacturing unit per day can be set up within a period of only six months and at an estimated cost of 45 lakhs.

It is necessary to focus on getting better returns to the cultivators of these coarse grains in the millet year. If farmers form cooperatives and market their own value added products of millet, ragi and juwan, they can earn two to four times the income from sale of millet only. Yes, it is necessary for farmers to venture into the field of food processing by starting up start-ups. It is necessary for the government to subsidize the cost of setting up a unit for manufacturing value added products through startups. It is necessary to subsidize enterprises through agricultural cooperative societies. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a special subsidy scheme for primary cooperative societies to start up. However, the technology and guidance for manufacturing value added products is provided by the government, hence the cost is also less.

Today, the National Research Development Corporation of the Government of India has the facility to make and market 60 different products from coarse grains including millet, ragi, jowar. The technology to manufacture these items is ready to be provided to every unit that wants to be active as a start-up in the food processing sector. By taking this technology and setting up a unit, they can put healthy products in the market from thick grains like millet, ragi, jowar which are loved by the youth. The National Research Development Corporation provides start-ups with this technology and also guides them to set up units. Gluten free snacks, dosa, halwa, upma, dhoklaan, sevaiya, khichdi, idli mix can be made and marketed from jowar, bajri ragi. One can dominate the market by creating a unique brand image of their products. The time has come to prepare and market ready-to-eat products from ragi, jowar and millet. Products like millet, ragi and sorghum pasta, noodles, sevaiya, etc. are included.

In a seminar, the informants said that ragina papad can also be made now. Ragi, millet and jowar can be made into rotis, rotis, halwa, upma, dosa, dhokla, idli mix, pasta, noodles. In the bakery segment, ragi, sorghum and millet biscuits can be made that will not spoil for six months. Bajri-Jowar-Ragi bread, muffins and cakes can also be made and marketed. Ragi can also be made into flakes. Nutritious food can also be prepared for infants and children aged 3 to 6 years. As it is the International Millet Year, they are expected to come forward to market and prepare different products. Ragi-Jowar-Bajri is rich in nutrients like calcium, protein, fiber, iron, zinc and is considered very beneficial for human health. It can also be marketed by promoting its nutritional content. Let's talk about a start up for value added products. A millet protein and energy bar manufacturing unit can be set up in just six months and at an estimated cost of Rs 45 lakhs. In it, 500 kg of millet protein and energy bars can be prepared every day and placed in the market under its own brand. Farmers can unite and prepare millet protein and energy bars in villages.

For that, the government can ask for waste or bad land. It can also cost to install a solar power system for power supply. Thick grains grow by themselves. So there is no need to depend on others. After getting the land, by investing approximately 55 lakhs for solar power machinery, modern products can be prepared and marketed. The possibilities for advancement are endless. That is why bajri, sorghum and ragi are called the grains of tomorrow.