The State should tie up with the Indian Institute of Millets in Hyderabad for increased market penetration of millet products through startups: Sudhanshu Pandey
The Secretary Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sudhanshu Pandey recently held a meeting with the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka wherein the settlement of procurement incidental claims, preparations of the state for procurement operations, setting up of units for production of fortified rice kernels, distribution of fortified rice, encouraging production of millets, setting up of ethanol blending units etc. were discussed.
Pandey informed that 2023 being declared as International year of Millets and Karnataka being large producer of Ragi, the state should gear up with increased production of millets and tie up with the Indian Institute of Millets in Hyderabad for increased market penetration of millet products through startups.
The Secretary Food further said that the requirement of millets of other states can also be met by Karnataka with centre bearing all the handling and transportation costs.
Drawing the attention of the state to the important project of the Centre which is distribution of Fortified Rice under ICDS and MDM schemes, he suggested that the state health department should be roped in for monitoring the health developments of such children. As the state has ambitious plans of increased paddy procurement he suggested that the fortified rice can be procured locally with fortified rice kernels (FRK) units being established on long term objective of 100% fortified rice for aspirational and heavy burdened districts. He suggested that the state should do the fortification of rice at milling stage itself.