CSIR-CFTRI Director Giridhar Parvatham and Rajan Aggarwal, Executive Director and CEO, Milltec Machinery Private Limited, Bengaluru during the launch of secondary millet processing facility.

| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysuru inaugurated a new secondary millet processing facility established with financial support from Milltec Machinery Private Limited, Bengaluru, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative recently. The facility is aimed at supporting farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and other grassroots enterprises in converting millets into value-added, market-ready foods.The facility was inaugurated by Rajan Aggarwal, Executive Director and CEO, Milltec Machinery Private Limited, Bengaluru, and Giridhar Parvatam, Director, CSIR-CFTRI.As a premier institution in food science and processing technology, CSIR-CFTRI has been developing technologies for the primary and secondary processing of millets, recognising their growing importance as nutritious and climate-resilient cereals. The newly established facility is designed particularly for small-scale processing, demonstration and hands-on training, bridging the gap between laboratory-scale technologies and commercial production, the institute said.Unlike the institute’s existing millet processing facilities, which operate at capacities of around 500–1,000 kg, the new facility has been designed for operations in the range of 10–50 kg per day. This makes it particularly suitable for technology demonstration, skill development and training of FPOs, SHGs, farmers and aspiring rural entrepreneurs, according to a press release.The facility is equipped with a range of secondary processing machines, including a popping unit with a capacity of up to 20 kg per hour; a continuous papad-making machine with a capacity of up to 20 kg per hour, capable of producing millet-based papads with adjustable flattened diameters ranging from 1 to 6 inches; and a continuous air-frying system for millet-based snacks and ready-to-eat products using hot-air heating.It also houses a 50-litre batch vacuum fryer, capable of operating under vacuum conditions of up to 650 mmHg, along with a pasta extruder, deep-oil fryer and de-oiling unit. Together, these systems enable the development and demonstration of a wide variety of millet-based snacks, papads, pasta and other value-added products.Speaking on the occasion, Giridhar Parvatam, Director, CSIR-CFTRI said the facility would help bring modern secondary processing technologies closer to farmers and grassroots enterprises. “This facility provides industrial-grade secondary processing capability directly in the hands of farmers and grassroots enterprises. It is a practical step towards turning India’s millet potential into everyday, market-ready food.”Mr. Rajan Aggarwal said the initiative reflected the company’s commitment to strengthening the millet value chain. “We are proud to partner with CSIR-CFTRI in building infrastructure that farmers, FPOs and SHGs can put to work right away.”The facility is expected to serve as a hands-on technology demonstration and training platform, enabling entrepreneurs and farmer groups to gain practical experience in secondary millet processing, product development and value addition. It will also facilitate the adoption of appropriate processing technologies, improve technological competitiveness and create opportunities for rural entrepreneurship and income generation, the CFTRI explained.With the growing demand for convenient, nutritious and value-added millet foods, the new facility is expected to strengthen the connection between millet production, processing, entrepreneurship and markets, contributing to the wider development of India’s millet value chain, the institute said. Published - August 20, 2026 08:21 pm IST