Processing and Value Addition of Millets in Tribal Production Catchment-A Success Story

ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), Bhopal identified the millet producing tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh and developed processing facilities for the promotion of mechanized millet processing, for the livelihood of the tribals. A Millet Processing Centre (MPC) was established at Harshdwari, a tribal village in Tamia Block, Chhindwara District with an overall capacity of 100 kg/h. The machines-CIAE Millet Thresher, CIAE Millet Mill, De-stoner cum Grader, Grain Polisher, Pulveriser, Flour Sifter and Packaging machinery, were installed in the MPC for use by the tribals to process kodo millet, little millet and barnyard millet into value added products of their choice, threshed millet grains, millet rice, millet flour or millet rawa (semolina). Madhya Pradesh Vigyan Sabha (MPVS), a registered non-government organization, was the partner to establish and operate the millet processing centre. During the year of establishment, the centre processed about 3800 kg of millets with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.89.