New millet processing facility opened at CSIR-CFTRI
CSIR-CFTRI in Mysuru launched a secondary millet processing facility funded by Milltec CSR, aimed at small-scale production and hands-on training for farmers and grassroots groups. The unit features equipment for demonstrations, with capacity much smaller than CFTRI’s existing facilities.
Key takeaways
- CSIR-CFTRI launched a second millet processing facility in Mysuru with CSR funding from Milltec Machinery Private Limited.
- The unit targets small-scale use (10–50 kg per day) and serves as a hands-on training and demonstration hub.
- Equipment supports millet-based snacks, papads and pasta, with capabilities for popping, air-frying, and vacuum frying.
What Happened
The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI) in Mysuru opened a new secondary millet processing facility. The project was financed through a CSR initiative by Milltec Machinery Private Limited, Bengaluru. The inauguration was conducted by Rajan Aggarwal, Executive Director and CEO of Milltec, and Giridhar Parvatam, Director of CSIR-CFTRI. The facility is designed to assist farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations, Self-Help Groups and other grassroots enterprises by converting millets into market-ready, value-added products. It is intended as a practical, hands-on platform for technology demonstration, skill development and training, bridging laboratory work with commercial production.
The new unit differs from CSIR-CFTRI’s existing millet processing facilities in scale. It is designed for operations ranging from 10 to 50 kilograms per day, compared with the larger facilities that operate around 500–1,000 kilograms. The equipment available includes a popping unit (up to 20 kg per hour), a continuous papad-making machine (up to 20 kg per hour) capable of millet-based papads with adjustable diameters (1 to 6 inches), and a continuous air-frying system for millet-based snacks and ready-to-eat products using hot air. It also houses a 50-litre batch vacuum fryer (vacuum conditions up to 650 mmHg), plus a pasta extruder, a deep-oil fryer and a de-oiling unit. These tools enable development across millet-based snacks, papads, pasta and related products.
CSIR-CFTRI’s leadership emphasised that the facility brings industrial-grade secondary processing capabilities closer to farmers and grassroots groups, supporting practical market-ready outputs and broader millet value-chain development. Milltec described the project as a step toward strengthening the millet value chain and enabling immediate use by farmers, FPOs and SHGs.
The institute indicated the facility would function as a demonstration and training venue, helping entrepreneurs and farmer groups gain hands-on experience in secondary millet processing, product development and value addition, with the broader aim of improving rural entrepreneurship and income opportunities tied to millets.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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