Survey highlights key barriers in millet consumption | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: A joint survey conducted by the World Food Programme and Nutri Hub of the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), titled ‘Formative Assessment on Barriers and Opportunities for Improving Millet Consumption in India,’ has revealed several insights into consumer behaviour, challenges, and perceptions related to millet storage and consumption.The findings, released on Thursday during the Stakeholders Summit on Millets 2025, showed that 91% of consumers identified taste as a major factor influencing their choice of millet varieties. Conducted across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, the survey found that 90% of respondents consumed millets only occasionally.Despite growing interest in millets, the study revealed that 75% of consumers were unaware of their health benefits, with an equal percentage lacking knowledge about their specific nutritional value. Additionally, many believed that millets are suitable mainly for winter and about 50% thought they take longer to cook.The survey also found that only 34% of respondents were aware of government campaigns promoting millet consumption. It recommended expanding govt-led distribution channels for millet-based foods to improve public nutrition. Notably, the study highlighted the pivotal role of women in both cultivating and incorporating millets into family diets.Another key finding was the difference in millet preparation between rural and urban areas. In rural households, millets are typically prepared as chapatis, rotis, or dalia (a common food made from broken or cracked wheat), while in urban settings, they are more commonly consumed in ready-to-eat forms.
