9 June 2025, Hyderabad
In a major boost to millet research and innovation, Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, laid the foundation stone for the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (GCoE on Millets) at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad, today during the “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan” campaign with the gracious presence of Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Shri Thummala Nageswara Rao, Agriculture Minister, Telangana; Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR); Dr. D. K. Yadava, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR; Dr. Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad and various dignitaries from state and state government. Further, all the dignitaries participated in plantation drive at ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad for greener environment.
Shri. Chouhan highlighted the importance of upcoming centre that is envisioned to position India as a Global Leader in Millets (Shree Anna) through cutting-edge research, technology, and enterprise development. Shri. Choudhary stressed that Millets the future of sustainable nutrition that boosts exports through value-added products.
Dr. Jat highlighted that GCoE on Millets will house seven key components viz.,Global germplasm storage, Millet seed and crop improvement unit, National food safety and quality lab, Value chain incubation centre, International training & museum complex, Industrial utilization facility, and Regional outreach hubs.
Dr. C. Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR-IIMR, stated that the centre will focus on advanced breeding methods such as genomics-assisted breeding, speed breeding, and gene editing, as well as the development of modern millet-processing tools and machinery. “It is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting startups and entrepreneurs working in the millet value chain,” she added.
Following the inauguration, the dignitaries visited the institute’s Nutrihub, millet processing and bakery units, and interacted with FPOs, startups, and agripreneurs. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan interacted with ICAR-IIMR promoting FPOs i.e., Lambasingi Tribal Products FPCL, Sri Matsya Devatha FPO, Nidgundi Sri Hadi Basavanappa Oilseed & Millets FPO, and Jewargi Taluka Millets FPCL.
The FPO representatives shared their transformational journey from selling raw grains to launching branded, packaged products for niche urban and online markets. Shri. Shivraj Singh Chouhan appreciated the efforts of FPOs for their contributions in strengthening millet value chain and appreciated IIMR for guiding FPOs towards product development, processing technology, packaging, branding, and marketing of millets.
The Ministers commended ICAR-IIMR’s holistic approach and reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment in mainstreaming millets (Shree Anna) as a pillar of nutritional security, climate resilience, and farmer prosperity under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyaan.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad)
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