India: Startups find meat in millets, gear up to meet global demand

A Jodhpur-based bakery this year exported millet cakes and cookies to the UAE, Indonesia and South Africa and is seeing strong demand for such gluten-free and vegan-friendly snacks made from locally sourced millets. It is among the 200-odd startups involved in producing millet-based products. From mota anaaj (coarse grains) to Shree Anna, millets have come a long way in India, in not only their branding but also exports. A 37.68% increase in exports to $57.14 million in five years to 2022-23, buckwheat, ragi, jawar, millet, amaranth and canary seeds have found favor across the world. In the first six months of 2023-24, millet exports touched almost $30 million. In 2021, India was the top millet producer in the world with a 20% share of global production, followed by the US and Nigeria.The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has also organized food sampling and tasting campaigns at supermarkets. and malls across the world have helped ...