ssing units in villages, farmers and local people can turn millets into flour, snacks, health drinks, or ready-to-eat foods. This not only adds value to what they grow but also creates jobs within the community itself. Instead of raw millets being sold at low prices, people can process them locally and earn better profits. Plus, there’s a growing demand for healthy, traditional foods in cities, so rural entrepreneurs can tap into that market too.

These industries can especially empower women and the youth. Women can easily get involved in millet processing, packaging, and even marketing, often from their own homes or in groups like self-help groups (SHGs). It helps them contribute financially to their families while balancing household responsibilities. For the youth, millet industries can open up opportunities beyond just farming – they can get into branding, digital marketing, food innovation, and even running online businesses. Also, these activities help revive traditional recipes and food knowledge that are getting lost. If supported by government schemes and proper training, millet-based cottage industries can help reduce rural unemployment, prevent migration, and make villages economically self-sufficient while promoting health and sustainability.