Page 43 - Mann Ki Baat - English, August 2022
P. 43
SHGs, FPOs — The Key Players in
India’s Millet Revolution
In 2021, as part of
‘Aatmanirbhar Narishakti
Se Samvad’, the Prime
Minister had interacted
with the women members
of Rudrapur-based Shakti
Sahayata Samooh. A Self-
Help Group (SHG), Shakti
Sahayata Samooh runs a
bakery that prepares millet
biscuits, resulting in each
member of the group earning
Rs. 7,500 per month.
As the demand for millets
is growing in the market, the FPO. Apart from selling value
SHGs in the country are rising to added products like, millet atta,
the opportunity. Ragi cookies, sev, cakes, the organisation also
bajra biscuits, jowar puffs, and organizes skill-oriented training
traditional delicacies like millet programmes for women farmers
halwa, kheer, upma, and dosa are to improve millet productivity and
quite popular among consumers provide access to market-related
these days. And several SHGs input and services. Another such
are involved in preparation and organisation, Karnataka-based
marketing of these products. Koppal Millets is also selling
Some State initiatives are also popular millet products like millet
helping the women associated papad, idli rava, noodles, and
with SHGs to get involved in the cookies.
entire millet value chain. Under FPOs are also connecting
the Odisha Millets Mission, women to millets start-ups, State
are being tasked to take on roles agricultural universities and its
in processing, value addition, and KVKs for technical support. To
marketing, while also maintaining transform the farmers and their
their traditional role of post- organizations into a business
harvest operations and seed entity, Indian Institute of Millets
management. Research (IIMR) is training FPOs
The Food Producing to undertake processing and
Organisations (FPOs) are also value addition of millets and
playing an important role in connecting to markets to sell
ushering in the Millet Revolution their raw as well as value added
in the country. Halchalit Mahila products. Efforts are also being
Kisan Women Farmers Producer made by IIMR to connect FPOs to
Company Ltd. is a women-centric e-marketing channels.
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