Millet Business Ideas: FPO OTLO’s millets business provides employment to 4 thousand farmers and women

Millet Business Ideas: It is difficult for the urban population to include millets in their food in raw form, so many FPOs and companies have entered the millets business. Many healthy things are being made from millets by processing, one such FPO is working in Dang district of Gujarat. The purpose of FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) is to provide seeds, fertilizers and other essential items to the farmers at the right price, and also to end their market problem. Because until the farmers’ crops reach the market at the right time, they will not get the right price for it.

Not only this, if any crop is processed instead of selling it in raw form, the price increases, so FPO OTLO running in Dang district of Gujarat started the work of processing millets to benefit millet farmers and provide employment opportunities for women. Here, women are also doing the work of making millet namkeen, papad, cookies, noodles and pasta. Kisan of India correspondent Sarvesh Bundeli spoke to OTLO Program Director Vineet Kumar about how OTLO is helping women become self-reliant and making millets available to more people. 

How did OTLO FPO start?

It is said that there is nothing in a name, but behind every name there is some story, some unique idea. Explaining the naming of OTLO FPO, Vineet Kumar says, Otlo in Gujarati means platform, where some people meet and discuss an issue. He also used to sit with the farmers on a platform like this and listen to their problems and try to find a solution and that is where OTLO started. Through FPO, along with providing quality fertilizers and seeds to the farmers, efforts are also being made to solve their market problem in the millets business.

4 thousand farmers joined and started millets processing 

Vineet Kumar tells that 99 percent of the population in Dang district of Gujarat is tribal. These people cultivate millets on a large scale and being a slightly hilly area, good quality millets are produced. He tells that till 5-6 years ago, the crop was only exported, but his FPO thought that when there is so much yield, why not process it and prepare different products so that the farmers also benefit. Vineet says that initially 350 farmers joined him, the number of which has now increased to 4000. 

90 percent women in processing unit 

There are many women in the field of agriculture, but they are not given the status of farmers. Vineet Kumar also says that among the 4000 farmers who are directly and indirectly associated with his FPO, a large number of them are women. He further says that along with farming related activities, about 90 percent of the processing unit of his FPO is women, that is, it can be said that it is women who run OTLO. Let us tell you that the United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers, that is, in the coming years, the contribution of women in the field of agriculture will be discussed.

Which products are prepared from millets? 

Regarding making different types of products from millets, Vineet says that the farmers who are cultivating millets, their homes know how to eat it or what things are made from it, but urban people do not know how to use it. Suppose if an urban woman is given ragi flour, she will not know how to make roti from it. Therefore, to deliver millets to every home, his FPO started making such products which people in the city usually like to eat like noodles, pasta, cookies, namkeen, biscuits.

Vineet further says that since his FPO is in Gujarat, he also makes different types of khakhra in which a total of 8 types of flavours of jowar, bajra, ragi, etc. are available. All these are made from pure millets, no maida or flour is added to it at all. Along with khakhra, he also has many types of cookies.

Apart from this, he also makes different types of namkeen. Not only this, he also uses spices keeping in mind the taste of each region, like different spices for Maharashtra, different spices for Gujarati flavour, different spices are used for the people of South India and Delhi. Vineet Kumar’s FPO has made pasta, noodles of different flavours of millets as well as muesli and corn flakes for children. Apart from this, he is now also working on making premixes for idli and dosa. This means that now even urban people have many options for healthy breakfast.

Farmers benefit from opening of FPO 

Talking about the benefits to farmers from his FPO, Vineet says that farmers no longer have to go far to buy seeds, which saves their transportation costs and they get good quality seeds at a cheaper price. If OTLO buys the farmers’ crop, then their market problem also ends and they benefit. On the other hand, the women working in the unit earlier had to go out of their villages and towns in search of work, but now they have got employment here, which has improved their economic condition.

Training of farmers in processing and packaging

Vineet Kumar says that his FPO has natural farming centers, where farmers associated with his FPO train other farmers. Not only this, arrangements are also made for their stay. Vineet says that his aim is to work with as many FPOs as possible so that everyone benefits. He will teach them how to process and package the raw material so that the crop can get a fair price. How farmers can move forward by processing the special things of their area. For example, the aromatic rice of Chhattisgarh is popular, so it should be processed and packaged there so that the crop gets a good price and employment opportunities increase. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Millets and FPO 

Question: What are millets?

Answer: Millets are a type of small-seeded cereal that has been an important food source in various cultures for centuries. These grains can be grown even in particularly harsh climates and are rich in nutrients. Millets are known for their nutritional value, health benefits and their use in agriculture.

Question: What are the types of millets?

Answer: Types of millets:

Sorghum

Bajra (Pearl Millet)

Ragi (Finger Millet)

Kangani (Foxtail Millet)

Kodo (Kodo Millet)

Chinna (Little Millet)

Sama (Barnyard Millet)

Question: What are the benefits of including millets in the diet?

Answer: Millets are rich in nutrition and contain good amount of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. Adding millets to your diet helps maintain a healthy digestive system, regulate blood sugar levels, and improve heart health.

Question: What food products can be made from millets? 

Millets can be used in a variety of dishes, such as: 

Rotis and parathas: Rotis and parathas are made from ragi and millet flour.

Dalia and khichdi: Making porridge and khichdi from millets is a healthy option.

Bakery products: Cookies, cakes, pizzas, and muffins can be made from millets.

Noodles and pasta: Noodles and pasta made from millets are also in great demand right now.

Question: What is FPO and what is its purpose?

Answer: FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) is an organization that organizes farmers so that they can get seeds, fertilizers, and other essential commodities at the right price. By joining this organization, many farmers work together in a group. Apart from this, the objective of FPO is to deliver the farmers’ crops to the market at the right time and to solve their market related problems. The price of crops is increased by processing through FPO.

Question: What are the benefits of processing millets?

Answer: By processing millets, many products like noodles, pasta, cookies, namkeen, biscuits etc. are made, which have become very popular in urban areas. This helps farmers get higher prices for their crops and consumers get healthy options.