The ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad has inaugurated a Millet Primary Processing Unit at the Sevalal Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) in Pendliman Thanda, Pattikonda Mandal of Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district. The initiative is designed to strengthen the millet value chain by enabling tribal farmers to undertake primary processing, improve product quality, and increase the market value of their produce.

The processing unit will help reduce post-harvest losses while improving the efficiency of cleaning, grading, and preparing millets for value-added products. By providing access to processing infrastructure at the community level, the project is expected to generate better income opportunities and encourage greater participation in millet-based enterprises.

Scientists from ICAR-IIMR also interacted with farmers on scientific post-harvest management, quality assurance, branding, entrepreneurship development, and market linkages. The institute believes the initiative can serve as a replicable model for strengthening tribal Farmer Producer Organisations and promoting sustainable millet-based rural enterprises across Andhra Pradesh.

The project reinforces ICAR-IIMR's ongoing efforts to promote Shree Anna (millets) through science-led interventions, institutional partnerships, and value-addition initiatives that improve livelihoods while supporting climate-resilient agriculture.