changeadminTo promote and support a market for millet-based products in India, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has allocated approximately Rs 800 crore under its PLISMBP scheme.
Launched in 2024, the PLI Scheme for Millet-Based Products (PLISMBP) aims to increase the use of millets in food products and promote their value addition by incentivising the manufacturing and sale of selected millet-based products in both domestic and export markets.
The scheme has a five-year tenure, and it incentivises the sale of branded ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products in consumer packs containing over 15% millet by weight or volume.
The scheme was launched with a total allocation of Rs. 800 crore, of which Rs. 793.27 crore has been approved by December 2025, to incentivise 29 applicants, including 8 large and 21 small and medium entities.
Millets are one of the climate-resilient food crops that thrive in harsh, dry conditions with minimal water, making them ideal for sustainable agriculture.
In India, millets (such as Bajra, Jowar, and Ragi) have been part of the diet for centuries, primarily as it is rich in protein, iron, calcium, and antioxidants.
The Indian government has championed millets (often referred to as Shree Anna) through the International Year of Millets (2023), encouraging their inclusion in diets to boost health and agriculture.
Additionally, millets offer sustainable income for small-scale farmers and tribal communities, especially with government backing to increase production.
To ensure the overall development of millet processing units, India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been incentivising the setting up and expansion of related infrastructure through its schemes such as PLISFPI and PMFME.
The Centrally sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme is implemented across the country.
The Branding and Marketing component of the PMFME scheme supports food processing enterprises, including millet-based product processing, in developing a common packaging & branding, with provision for quality control, standardisation, and adherence to food safety parameters for consumer retail sale.
As of December 2025, under the PMFME Scheme, 4,612 micro food processing enterprises with a subsidy of Rs. 91.20 Cr for millet processing units have been approved across the country.
Furthermore, under the PMFME Scheme, millet-based products have been identified as One District One Product (ODOP) in 21 districts in the country.
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