On Tuesday, Anita Praveen, the Secretary in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, revealed that the government is currently in the midst of unveiling a follow-up production linked incentive (PLI) program aimed at promoting the processing of millet-based foods within the nation.
She mentioned that the program is currently in the approval phase and encompasses a budget of INR 1,000 crore.
Addressing journalists during an ICC event in Kolkata, Praveen disclosed that in the inaugural phase of the PLI scheme, which commenced in the previous fiscal year, the financial aid amounted to INR 800 crore.
“The ministry had got applications from 30 units in the first phase and the scheme was fully subscribed. Now we plan to provide another round of PLI scheme involving an amount of INR 1,000 crore and is in the approval stages”, the food processing industries, secretary said.
Praveen said “the food processing industry had got an approval of INR 10,900 crore from the government for granting assistance to food processing units, out of which INR 800 crore had been carved out for millet-based products. Under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Microfood Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, the government had been helping small units in the food processing sector and over one lakh self-help groups (SHGs) had been extended assistance”, she said.
During her earlier remarks at the session, Praveen emphasized the goal of popularizing millets both within the nation and on the global stage, highlighting their classification as a ‘superfood’ owing to their nutritional and health advantages. Furthermore, she pointed out that the southern regions of India, along with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, stand as the largest consumers of millets within the country.
Additional chief secretary, food processing industry department of West Bengal government, Subrata Gupta said that the state government is also giving financial and technical support for growing millet-based food processing units. The state government is willing to support millet-based processing units, he said.
Gupta said that millet-based foods are gluten-free and have a low glycemic index, which is good for diabetics.