The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority facilitated India’s first-ever sea shipment of botanical-infused, ready-to-cook millet functional foods from Bengaluru, Karnataka, to New Zealand. Flagged off on June 3, 2026, the consignment represents a transition from exporting raw grains to exporting processed, high-value consumer products. This export seeks to bolster the domestic agricultural ecosystem, improve farmer incomes, and expand the global market footprint of Indian nutri-cereals.
First-Ever Millet Functional Food Sea Shipment
The inaugural sea shipment comprised one metric tonne of value-added, botanical-infused ready-to-cook millet products. Bengaluru-based agribusiness firm M/s Infini Agrotek LLP manufactured and processed the consignment. The shipment was virtually flagged off by the Chairman of APEDA, Abhishek Dev, who commended the exporter for its focus on innovation and quality standards.
The export order was secured through active participation in international trade promotion events sponsored by APEDA. These platforms, including World Food India 2025, Indus Food 2025, and Gulfood 2026, allowed the exporter to network with global buyers and establish trade pathways in new markets like New Zealand. By choosing sea transport over air freight, the cargo represents a cost-effective and scalable logistics solution for future shipments.
Understanding Botanical-Infused Millet Functional Foods
Functional foods refer to dietary items that provide physiological and health benefits beyond basic nutritional functions. Ready-to-cook millet functional foods represent a technological improvement in the food processing industry, blending the natural health properties of millets with specific botanical extracts. These botanical infusions are derived from natural herbs and plant extracts, which are incorporated into the millet processing phase to improve health benefits like glycemic management, digestion, and antioxidant properties.
The integration of botanical extracts into millets addresses the growing global demand for wellness-focused consumer products. By processing millets into easy-to-cook functional foods, agribusinesses can cater to health-conscious international markets. This value-addition increases the economic worth of the agricultural output, making it highly competitive compared to standard, unprocessed grains.
Role of APEDA in Promoting Value-Added Agri-Exports
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, which came into effect on February 13, 1986. Operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, APEDA is headquartered in New Delhi. The authority acts as the apex nodal organization for promoting the export of agricultural products and processed foods from India.
Under its Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme, APEDA offers comprehensive support to exporters to improve infrastructure, product quality, and market reach. The scheme offers standard financial subsidies covering up to 40% of the cost of setting up cold chain, grading, sorting, and advanced processing facilities. This assistance can rise up to 75% for women entrepreneurs and individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. APEDA also organizes international delegations and funds trade platform pavilions, which allowed the Bengaluru-based exporter to connect with its partners in New Zealand.
India’s Millet Leadership and the “Shree Anna” Initiative
India is the global leader in millet production, contributing approximately 42.75% of the world’s total output. Following a proposal by the Government of India, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). This initiative raised international awareness about the dietary benefits and climate resilience of millets, which the Indian government brands as “Shree Anna” (the mother of all grains). To sustain this momentum, the government administers a Sub-Mission on Millets under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) to expand the cultivation area and enhance productivity.
Millets are predominantly grown in arid and semi-arid regions of India, making them crucial for the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers. Rajasthan is the leading producer of pearl millet (bajra), while Karnataka leads in finger millet (ragi) cultivation, and Maharashtra and Karnataka dominate sorghum (jowar) production. Developing a robust export pipeline for value-added processed millet products ensures that farmers receive premium prices for their harvests. This helps insulate them from domestic price fluctuations and encourages sustainable farming practices across India’s dryland agricultural zones.
Key Takeaways
- APEDA facilitated the first-ever sea shipment of one metric tonne of botanical-infused ready-to-cook millet functional foods to New Zealand on June 3, 2026.
- The export shipment was processed and sent by Bengaluru-based agribusiness firm M/s Infini Agrotek LLP.
- APEDA is a statutory body established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with headquarters in New Delhi.
- The Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme by APEDA provides financial assistance up to 40% for standard projects and up to 75% for SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
- India accounts for approximately 42.75% of global millet production and designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets through the United Nations.
- In India, Karnataka is the leading producer of finger millet (ragi), while Rajasthan is the largest producer of pearl millet (bajra).
