Pre and Post-Production Mechanization and Value Addition of Millets: ICAR-CIAE Perspective

In many parts of India, millets are still produced without scientific engineering interventions, where there is potential to increase production and productivity through suitable mechanised efforts. This article focuses on the efforts of ICAR-CIAE on mechanization of complete millet value chain. It includes machinery and equipment specially designed for mechanization of millet production on the farm, post-harvest processing equipment and machinery to improve efficiency, nutritive value and storability of millets.

Since millets vary in size and shape, different machinery are required for different operations. CIAE has developed a range of manual, animal, power and tractor operated machinery to reduce drudgery and improve the production of millets, right from seedbed preparation to threshing, to cater to a wide group of farmers. Processing is a vital step to popularise millet consumption and institute has developed millet mill, which can dehusk a wide variety of millets, a millet flakes processing line and a popping machine. Several millet-based products have been developed through different technological interventions, with better nutrition, taste and shelf life suiting every age group, focusing on health-related issues.