Hyderabad's IIMR creates ‘rice-like millets’, promises tasty nutrition in daily diet
The initial focus has been on creating millet rice from kodo millets, with plans to extend the process to other millets, potentially revolutionising dietary habits.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 21 Nov 2023 11:19 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Millet Research (ICAR-IIMR) have introduced an innovative method to transform millet powder into ‘millet rice’ using a process called reconstitution.
B Dayakar Rao, CEO of Nutrihub, an organisation under IIMR promoting millet technologies, explained that this technique enhances millets’ nutritional content by incorporating additives like energy and fibre.
Dayakar Rao shared that the goal is to reshape millets into rice-like forms to appeal to those hesitant to consume millets.
The initial focus has been on creating millet rice from kodo millets, with plans to extend the process to other millets, potentially revolutionising dietary habits. Concerns about shelf life, currently set at six months, are being addressed with ongoing efforts to extend this period.
Decreased cooking time
An essential benefit of this approach is a 20 per cent reduction in cooking time, making it a convenient choice for those accustomed to the quick preparation associated with rice.
During a session, Rao highlighted India’s significant role as the largest global millet producer, constituting 19 per cent of the total millet cultivation area and 20 per cent of global production.
Tara Satyavathi, director of ICAR-IIMR, emphasised the need to transition from food security to nutrition security. She stressed the importance of shifting focus from calorie consumption to more nutritious options, with millets playing a pivotal role.
Over the last five years, ICAR-IIMR has successfully incubated 400 millet start-ups, with an additional 100 currently undergoing incubation at its Rajendranagar centre.
