Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, inaugurated the newly constructed Sri Anna Processing and Training Unit at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, during the National Sri Anna Farmers Fair and Industry Conference 2025 on March 3, 2024. The facility has been developed with financial support from the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (Shree Anna) and the Odisha Millet Mission Project.
The ICAR-Indian Sri Anna Research Institute, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad, organized the National Sri Anna Farmers Fair and Industry Conference 2025 under the theme "Sri Anna for Developed India." The event aimed to promote millet cultivation, processing, and value addition, particularly among Scheduled Castes and Tribes, to enhance agricultural sustainability and rural livelihoods.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister highlighted the importance of millets as climate-resilient and nutritionally rich crops. He reiterated the government's commitment to supporting millet farmers by improving processing infrastructure, ensuring better market access, and enhancing value chain efficiency. He encouraged farmers to conduct soil health testing before applying fertilizers and pesticides to reduce production costs and maximize yields. Minister Choudhary also highlighted the government's efforts to secure fair prices for farmers while keeping consumer costs reasonable.
During the event, the minister released various publications of the institute in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Odia, Tamil, Malayalam, and English, aimed at spreading awareness and technical knowledge among farmers. The occasion also saw the felicitation of Lahari Bai, India’s Sri Food Ambassador, and Raimati Ghiuria, known as the Millet Queen of India, along with other farmers who have contributed significantly to millet cultivation and innovation.
Dr. C. Tara Satyavathi, Director of ICAR-IIMR, highlighted the institute's dedication to supporting millet farmers through research, training, and market linkages. She noted that the newly established unit will serve as a hub for skill development and technology transfer in millet processing. The facility is equipped to process up to 30 different millet-based products, offering farmers and entrepreneurs opportunities for value addition and business growth.
With an investment of Rs 18 lakh, the Sri Anna Processing and Training Unit is expected to benefit a large number of farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural enterprises by equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to tap into emerging markets. The initiative aims to encourage millet adoption, improve productivity, and enhance profitability for small-scale farmers across India.
The event witnessed the participation of over 2,000 stakeholders, including Farmer Producer Organizations, self-help groups, women farmers, technologists, research institutions, policymakers, agribusiness experts, startups, and industry leaders. Several eminent personalities, including Dr. Aldas Janayya, Vice Chancellor, PGTAU, Dr. Raji Reddy, Vice Chancellor, SKLTHU, and Dr. G. Narendra Kumar, Director General, NIRDPR, were present on the dais, underlining the collective effort to boost India’s millet sector.
