21 May 2026, Hyderabad
With millets gaining renewed national and global importance as nutritious, climate-resilient, and sustainable crops, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Government of India, visited the ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (Shree Anna), today to review the institute’s pioneering initiatives in millet research, technology dissemination, entrepreneurship development, and infrastructure expansion under the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (Shree Anna).
Shri Chouhan planted a sapling near the Main Building symbolizing the commitment towards environmental sustainability and promotion of climate-resilient agriculture. During the visit, the Minister reviewed the progress of the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (Shree Anna) complex and its activities aimed at strengthening millet research, technology dissemination, value addition, entrepreneurship development, and capacity building for farmers and stakeholders.
Shri Chouhan interacted with farmers, FPO representatives promoted by ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, agri-startups, entrepreneurs, and millet stakeholders through an exhibition organized at the institute premises. The exhibition showcased improved millet varieties, millet-based value-added products, processing technologies, innovative machinery, startup-led enterprise models, and technologies developed by ICAR-IIMR for millet cultivation, seed production, processing, value addition, and commercialization.
Addressing the participants, the Minister, highlighted the critical role of millets in ensuring nutritional security, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and enhanced livelihoods for farming communities. He stressed the importance of expanding millet consumption, strengthening processing and value-addition infrastructure, and creating greater opportunities for FPOs, startups, women entrepreneurs, and rural youth in millet-based businesses. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment towards supporting millet promotion through research, innovation, technology transfer, and enterprise development aimed at improving farmer incomes and generating rural employment. He also appreciated the contributions of ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research in advancing millet research, entrepreneurship, and farmer-centric development initiatives for the overall growth of the millet sector.
Dr C. Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR-IIMR, briefed on the institute’s major initiatives under the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (GCoE), Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP), North Eastern Hill (NEH) programme, FPO promotion initiatives, and MAHARISHI programme activities. She highlighted that these programmes are focused on strengthening millet-based livelihoods through technology dissemination, capacity building, entrepreneurship promotion, processing support, and market linkages for farmers, FPOs, tribal communities, women, and rural youth across the country.
The Minister also visited the Advanced Phenomics Facility, developed under the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (Shree Anna), and reviewed the institute’s advanced research infrastructure for genomics and precision breeding in millets.
The visit of Shri Chouhan instilled a strong sense of encouragement and confidence among farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), agri-startups, women entrepreneurs, scientists, and millet stakeholders at the programme.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad)
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