India's Plans For The International Year of Millets

2023 has been designated as the International Year of Millets and India's Agri export promotion body, APEDA, plans to increase the country's export footprint from 50 to 100 countries in the next two years. Furthermore, it is developing strategies to ensure that countries other than our top buyers are initiated into the market as well.

"Right now, our products are exported to approximately 190 countries, up from approximately 150 countries a decade ago." "The challenge is to increase volume in countries other than the top ten while maintaining growth in major purchasing countries," said M Angamuthu, chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

By 2025, the worldwide millets market is predicted to exceed $12 billion, up from $9 billion presently.

Despite having a 41% share of millet production, with an annual output of roughly 12 million tonnes (mt), India's exports in 2020-21 were 87,558 tonnes, up 16.32% from 75,274 tonnes the previous year. Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia account for the majority of India's exports (up to 60%). The top 10 nations are responsible for 87% of total volume.

According to trade sources, India has a negligible presence in key millets-importing nations such as Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Italy, and Brazil, and these markets might be aggressively exploited. While millets should be exported as both raw materials and value-added products, one exporter advised that the Centre, in partnership with state governments, develop an export-centric production incentive that would also help with crop diversification.

India has slid to the fifth position in global trade, with exports decreasing to $26.73 million in 2020 from $30.82 million in 2019, according to ITC Trade Map, while Ukraine has climbed to fourth place with $29.79 million. There is, however, a big disparity between India and the United States, which comes in second with exports of $ 58.15 million. With shipments worth $ 93.16 million, Canada is the leading exporter.

"Support will be provided for post-harvest value addition, expanding domestic demand, and branding millet goods domestically and globally," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during the Budget.

APEDA has already signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR) for the export of millets and the establishment of a plan for their promotion in the worldwide market, according to Angamuthu. Several virtual buyer-seller meetings were held during the epidemic, with officials from Indian embassies in attendance.