Bihar is taking strong steps to promote millet cultivation, processing, and consumption through a focused partnership between the Government of Bihar, ICRISAT, and leading agricultural universities.

During his visit to the Bihar Centre of Excellence for the Millet Value Chain at Mayapur, Gaya, Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha appreciated the efforts being made to strengthen millet-based agriculture in the state. He highlighted that millets are not only important for nutrition and sustainability but also for creating new employment, rural enterprises, and income opportunities for farmers.

The initiative is being implemented by ICRISAT, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Bihar Agricultural University, and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Bihar. The project aims to build a complete millet ecosystem covering seed development, cultivation, processing, value addition, entrepreneurship, and market linkages.

In the last three years, the project has achieved major progress. It has identified promising millet lines, produced quality seeds, involved hundreds of farmers, tested climate-smart millet-based cropping systems, established processing units, developed ready-to-market millet products, and trained more than 1,000 farmers, with women playing a major role.

Women self-help groups are also becoming important contributors to Bihar’s millet revival by participating in seed production, food product development, and enterprise activities.

This initiative shows how millets can support sustainable agriculture, improve nutrition, create livelihoods, and strengthen rural economies. Bihar’s millet value chain model can become an important example for other states looking to promote Shree Anna as a future-ready food and farming solution.