The purpose of the Millets Experience Centre, founded by NAFED and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), is to enhance public awareness about millets and encourage their utilization.
In response to India's proposal, which was endorsed by 72 countries, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). The declaration put India at the vanguard of the celebrations, and the government has been working in 'mission mode' to promote millets as a crop that benefits farmers, the environment, and consumers.
The ministry-led initiative to establish a consumer-oriented 'Millets Experience Centre' would not only promote the dietary benefits of the ancient grain, but would also popularize millets or Shree Anna as a nutritional powerhouse suitable for cooking a variety of dishes such as Millets dosa, Millets pasta, and so on. Customers may purchase a variety of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook items from local millet start-ups at the MEC, in addition to a one-of-a-kind eating experience.
Tomar complimented India's lively celebration of IYM 2023, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in his opening address. Highlighting the Prime Minister's visionary efforts, beginning with the declaration of the National Year of Millets in 2018 and continuing with the International Year of Millets (IYM), Tomar stated that India is on its way to become a 'Global Hub' for Millets. He noted that the formation of the MEC is a step in that direction.
Dilli Haat, located in the centre of Delhi, is a national and cultural hub for travellers from all over the world. The MEC will help the worldwide spread of the local millets and allow visitors with the opportunity to see India's 'Millet Movement,' he said. Tomar further stated that the year-long millets (Shree Anna) celebrations will include a variety of activities targeted at raising awareness about the environmental, health, and economic benefits of millet farming.
Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, also emphasized government-led initiatives for millet mainstreaming. In discussing the NAFED-MoA&FW collaboration, he stated that ventures such as the Millets Experience Centre would help broaden the horizon for consumers who are actively looking for healthier alternatives, as well as bring visibility to India's robust millet-based start-up community. He also stated that more Millet Experience Centres will likely emerge in Delhi and other states in the near future through collaboration with retail chains, hotels, and the food and beverage industry.
Rajbir Singh, Managing Director of NAFED, thanked the MoA&FW and NAFED for their collaborative efforts in promoting millets (Shree Anna) and carrying out IYM-2023. He stated that the Millets Experience Centre (Shree Anna) is a novel concept that will aid in the identification of millets' (Shree Anna's) enormous potential as a versatile and healthful grain. He went on to say that this MEC (Shree Anna) will let customers to enjoy an extensive Millet menu as well as a 'in-store' shopping experience including a wide selection of millet-based products made by homegrown startups- all under one roof.
He further stated that the millets (Shree Anna)-based products will help to promote healthy snacking among customers, pushing them to embrace healthier millets-centric diets.
