Gayatri Industries located at Hubballi in Karnataka is now ready to market a slew of instant millet-based products under the brand name ‘mk it easy’. The company which sought technical guidance from the Bengaluru-based Centre for Processed Foods (CPF) has researched and developed the millet based instant mixes for preparation of Idli, Dosa, Paddu, Kichdi and Bajji-Pakoda.
The company led by woman entrepreneur Sangeeta Katti as its proprietor approached Chetan L Hanchate, CEO, Centre for Processed Foods, to ascertain the areas that would hold growth prospects in agro-based industries.
Early last week, Gayatri Industries manufacturing facility which saw an investment of around Rs 1.5 crore was inaugurated by Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Prahlad Joshi at Hubballi.
All five products are processed and packed at its modern food manufacturing facility. While the idli and dosa mix are from millet powders, the Paddu, Bajji Pakoda and Kichdi mix are processed using the millet grains.
All these products are for the domestic market and Hanchate, is of the view that there would a positive response from the customers.
"We provided end-to-end guidance as the agro food industry currently holds immense growth prospects. Moreover millets secure sixth position in terms of world agricultural production of cereal grains and are still a staple food in many regions in the country and globally," he added.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the year 2023 would be the 'International Year of Millets'. Considerable attention would be accorded for post-harvest value addition, increasing domestic consumption and branding millet products nationally as well as internationally. Earlier, the year 2018, had also been declared as the 'National Year of Millets'.
India is among the largest global producers of millets with Rajasthan positioned as the top millet-producing state, offering over 40 per cent of total production in the country. Karnataka also holds a pre-eminent position in terms of millet production, with the state producing over 3 lakh tonne of millets annually.
According to Hanchate, promising prospects are there for millet processing. Millets are now most-sought after and have gained considerable importance during the pandemic phase going by their high nutritive content that boosts immunity.
“We see millets are for the masses going by its nutritive content. Millets are a superfood. It is gluten-free and a powerhouse of micronutrients and referred to as nutri-cereals. Those engaged in millet processing and marketing need to ensure brand management, pricing and packaging. Moreover a lot depends on the consumers buying behaviour and the importance they give to Ready to Eat (RTE) products," he said.