Of Mill-ets & Boons: Startups, Vending Machines to Experience Centre, NAFED to Promote the Grains

From setting up millet-centric startups, vending machines across Delhi-NCR that give out the high-nutrient grain and a ‘Millets Experience Centre’ at Delhi Haat, the Centre has tasked the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd to promote the ‘International Year of Millet 2023’ on a global scale, officials said. “A memorandum of understanding has been signed between NAFED and the ministry, under which it has begun to extend marketing linkage to millet-centric startups, setting up a ‘millet corner’ in NAFED Bazaar retail stores and installation of millet-vending machines across Delhi-NCR,” said a senior official. The official said the ministry is also in the process to establish a ‘Millets Experience Centre’ at Delhi Haat, INA to promote nutritious millets and create awareness on the rich history of India through millet-based dishes. Officials said it has also requested that for the ministerial level meetings, the ministries/departments and the state governments must ensure millet-based hampers, millet branding-right from airport, city side and in the venue, millet cuisine, stalls and cafes as well as millets literature.