At the initiative of our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM). Now, to promote 'Shree Anna' and tap Millet products' potential in the Maharashtra region, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in association with All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA), is organizing "Pune Millets Mela" at SNDT Women's University, Pune, Maharashtra on 12 July 2023. This event is also supported by the Government of Maharashtra.

The Government of India gives high priority to the food processing sector, an important pillar of the 'Make in India' initiative. This sector has grown rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 8.83% in the last five years, and is expected to reach USD 535 billion by FY26. Some recent initiatives MoFPI took for the food processing sector include permitting 100% FDI, Income tax deductions for eligible units, and agri-processing included in priority sector lending loans. 

Millet is an ancient grain that people have consumed (and consuming in many parts). Millets are also utilized as feed for livestock. Millet is a good source of protein, fiber, essential vitamins, and minerals. The potential health benefits of millet include:

• Protecting cardiovascular health

• Preventing the onset of diabetes

• Helping people achieve and maintain a healthy weight and managing inflammation in the gut.

This event aims to create awareness and encourage processing, value addition, entrepreneurship, and consumption of Millets & Millet products. The event will provide a platform for stakeholders in the Food Processing Sector, Technologists, Scientists, Farmers, Industry, Exporters, and Policy Makers to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges involved in promoting millet as a superfood to ensure nutrition and promote India's participation in the global trade in the agri-food sector.

To enhance the competitiveness of individual micro-enterprises in the country, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) launched the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme on June 29, 2020, under the "Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan".The scheme provides financial, technical, and business support for the upgradation of micro-food processing enterprises in the country.

The scheme is being implemented in close collaboration with State Nodal Agencies of respective States. All the States/UTs have appointed Nodal Agencies to implement the scheme. Applications for credit-linked subsidies for individual enterprises are approved at the district level, while applications for groups are approved at the State Level/MOFPI. The MIS portal for PMFME Scheme receives individual applications for credit-linked subsidies to upgrade food processing units. For monitoring & approvals, Committees at the state and district level in the States/UTs have been constituted. Under the PMFME Scheme, Credit Linked Subsidy @35% for establishing or setting up a micro food processing unit with a maximum subsidy of Rs. 10 lakhs and for common infrastructure with a maximum subsidy of Rs. 3 Cr. would be provided. 

So far, the scheme has benefitted more than 1,00,000 beneficiaries engaged in food processing activities. Out of these, around 38466 loans have been sanctioned to set up a new micro food enterprise or upgrade the existing units, with the subsidy @35 % of the project cost.

The 'Pune Millets Mela' will be inaugurated by Anita Praveen (IAS), secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India, along with senior state officials, including Sunil Chavan, IAS, Agriculture Commissioner, Govt. of Maharashtra; Deepak Taware, IAS, chairman and managing director, Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation, Prof. Ujwala Chakradeo, vice chancellor, SNDT Women's University and Dr. Raghav Jadli, president, AIFPA.

Visiting Hours for 'Pune Millets Mela' are from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM on 12 July 2023.