Agro-Processing Unit

Year of Establishment: 2025

Funding Agency: ICAR-AICRP on Farm Implements and Machinery, CIAE, Bhopal and UAS, Bangalore

About the Unit

Millets, known for their nutritional benefits and resilience to climate variations, have experienced a surge in cultivation. However, inadequate processing facilities have posed a significant barrier, resulting in post-harvest losses and reduced profitability for farmers. Recognizing the growing importance of millet cultivation and the challenges faced by farmers in processing their produce efficiently Agro-Processing Unit is established under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Farm Implements and Machinery (FIM) at Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), V.C. Farm, Mandya.

Farmers in Mandya and broader Karnataka encounter several obstacles in processing millets:

• Historically, millet processing was manual, demanding considerable labour and time, thereby increasing costs for consumers.
• Existing small millet processing units often result in substantial waste, (up to 30-40%) leading to reduced profitability.
• The scarcity of advanced processing units compels farmers to sell unprocessed produce at lower prices, affecting their income.
• Challenges such as limited access to markets, inadequate storage facilities, and insufficient government support hinder the profitability of millet farming.

Addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing the livelihoods of millet farmers in Mandya. The establishment of modern agro-processing facilities can play a pivotal role in reducing waste, improving product quality, and ensuring better market prices for their produce.

Agro Processing Unit is equipped with advanced machinery, including a millet destoner, millet dehusker, cleaner, grader, huller/polisher, mini mill, dhal mill, and dhal polisher, aimed at providing comprehensive processing solutions for farmers.

The Agro Processing Unit addresses these challenges by offering efficient and affordable processing services at nominal charges. This initiative is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance product quality, and increase the market value of millets and pulses.

Mandates

• To reduce post-harvest losses in millets and pulses from the existing 30-40% to less than 10% through mechanized processing.
• To provide timely, efficient, and affordable processing services to small and marginal farmers at nominal charges.
• To enhance farm-level value addition and ensure better price realization by enabling sale of processed and graded produce instead of raw grains.
• To minimize drudgery and labour dependency associated with traditional manual processing methods.
• To serve as a training and demonstration center for farmers, FPOs, SHGs, rural youth, and entrepreneurs on operation, maintenance, and quality management.

A bird view of Agro Processing Unit

• Millet destoner
• Dehusker-cleaner/grader
• Paddy dehuller
• Mini mill
• Dhal mill
• Dhal polisher

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