Exports of Millets to Increase Exponentially as Indian Exporters Find New Markets

Millets exports are expected to grow tremendously in the next few years as Indian exporters find new markets abroad, according to the Department of Commerce, as worldwide demand for nutria-cereals continues to rise.

In 2020, India was the world leader in millet production, accounting for roughly 41% of total global production. India is currently the world’s fifth largest exporter of millets, with exports increasing at a 3% CAGR over the last five years ending in 2020. India exported millets worth US$ 26.97 million in 2020-21, compared to US$ 28.5 million in 2019-20.

Nepal (US$ 6.09 million), the UAE (US$ 4.84 million), and Saudi Arabia (US$ 3.84 million) were the top three importers of millets from India in 2020-21. Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, the UK, Yemen, Oman, and Algeria round up the top ten destinations for Indian millet exports.

These ten countries imported millets from India worth US$ 22.03 million in total. According to DGCIS data, other countries accounted for US$ 5.13 million in millets imports from India, bringing the total imports from India in 2020-21 to US$ 27.43 million.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been working hard to make it easier for Indian exporters to transport millets and help them break into new markets. APEDA hosted its inaugural Virtual Trade Fair – India Rice and Agro Commodity Show – in March 2021, which included millet exporters as well. Virtual Buyer-Seller Meets (BSM) have been arranged involving Indian embassies, importers, exporters, and product groups.

To give impetus to the export of potential products as well as to remove the bottlenecks in the supply chain of nutria-cereals, APEDA has created Nutri Cereals Export Promotion Forum which also included millets exports. It has also organized a sensitization programme for millet start-ups to familiarize them about export opportunities.