The University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad (UAS-D) has designed de-hulling equipment for minor millets and would shortly roll out food processing units in four States with a Rs 3.50-crore grant from the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), Canada.

Millet is one of the cheapest sources of food grain that is easily accessible to the poor, and the drop in its production has had an adverse impact on grain diversity in the rural food basket. In order to address this issue, CIFSRF is funding a project to strengthen regional staple food grains in India to extend food security at the local village level.

Major growing regions such as Haveri (jowar) in Karnataka, Namakal (ragi) in Tamil Nadu, Koraput (ragi) in Orissa and Rudrapriyag (barnyard millet and haraka) in Uttaranchal have been chosen for the millet project, which will receive technical support from McGill University, Canada.

Dr Nirmala B. Yenagi, Professor and Head, Department of Food Science and Nutrition at UAS-D, said: “With the help of McGill University, we have designed de-hulling equipment. Also, as part of the project, we are rolling out food processing units for value addition to millets at all the project sites.”

“Along with food processing units, efforts are being made to link production and marketing to enhance the entrepreneurial leadership of women, by forming self-help groups (SHGs),” she added.

On Saturday, Mr David M. Malone, President, International Development Research Centre-Canada, one of the funding partners, will be in Dharwad to review the project's progress.

CIFSRF has roped in other agencies including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for the three-year project.

CIFSRF and McGill University selected the University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad (UAS-D) to anchor the project and have also roped in non-Government organisations (NGOs) including the Chennai-based M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the Dehra Dun-based Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (Hesco) in the project.

> anil.u@thehindu.co.in

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