New Delhi: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the export consignment of millet-based value-added products by a farmer from Sangrur, Dilpreet Singh. Singh has transformed into an exporter, marking his first export consignment of 14.3 metric tonnes of millets, and its products valued at USD 45,803. Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev flagged off the consignment.
The shipment includes ready-to-cook millets derived from Kodo millet, Foxtail millet, Little millet, Browntop millet, and Barnyard millet. Additionally, flours sourced from Ragi, Jowar, Bajra, Foxtail, Kodo, Barnyard, Browntop, Little, and Proso millets were also a part of this unique export endeavour.
Jasvir Singh, the importer based in Sydney, also participated in the virtual flag-off ceremony. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to APEDA for their extensive support in facilitating the collaboration. He is optimistic about expanding further business opportunities and ensured to continue to import more such consignments in future. The farmer has complete value chain control from end to end which is required by the buyers. He grows millets on his own farms, and primary and secondary processing is done in his unit including the packaging of international quality.
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This success story exemplifies how the agriculture sector can be transformed, with farmers like Dilpreet becoming key contributors to agricultural exports. This symbolises the empowerment of local farmers venturing into international markets.
With an increase in millet exports from USD 62.95 million in 2021-22 to USD 75.45 million in 2022-23 and with a current export of USD 45.46 million from April – November 2023, millets are gaining popularity in the global market. There is a significant increase in the export of cereal preparation including value-added millet products registering a growth of 12.4 per cent over the same period last year.
APEDA has facilitated around 500 startups in marketing and exporting millet-based value-added products.
