Chapters 8.43
8.43-Finger Millet Value Addition
Sayan Ladhani, University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Ladhani,S. (2022) Finger Millet Value Addition,In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org
Introduction
Finger millet is a cereal crop grown primarily Uganda and Tanzania, but is cultivated across Southern and Eastern Africa and throughout India ("The World," 1996). It is a staple crop for millions of subsistence farmers across these regions; Africa alone produces 2 million tons of finger millet, the majority of which is eaten by farmers and their families (National Research Council, 1996). There are many benefits to finger millet as a crop and as a food source, however it is a globally undervalued and underutilized crop.
Finger millet is a nutritionally robust crop, which is partially why it is so important for subsistence farming. It is a cereal crop, making it high in carbohydrates, but is considered nutritionally greater than wheat and rice (two main global staple cereal crops) due to it’s high content of calcium and other minerals not found in most common cereals (Chandra et al., 2016). Finger millet also has high protein and fiber contents. Consistent consumption of this millet has been proven to reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal cancers and type two diabetes (Chandra et al., 2016). Finger millet is abundant in amino acids tryptophan, methionine and cysteine, some of which are deficient in other cereal crops and are essential to growth and human health (National Research Council, 1996)
Despite its many benefits as a cereal crop, finger millet is mainly consumed as a primary product by the farmers who are cultivating it. Due to the low awareness and therefore low demand for it, the crop is typically sold as a raw commodity, for which it receives very little returns. Currently only about 23% of millets are being processed into other foods (Orr et al., 2017) and according to Sakamma et al. the current rate for Indian farmers selling finger millet grains is “about 1.04 rupees earned for every rupee of expenditure”. This incredibly low rate of return is perpetuating poverty for these farmers and continuing a cycle of a subsistence lifestyle. In order to combat this extreme poverty, finger millet must not be sold as a raw commodity; there must be an aspect of added value - it must be altered from the raw state. Lu and Dudensing believe that there are two ways to add value to a product:
1. “Capturing value down the supply chain”
2. “Enhancing the intrinsic value of the commodity/product”
Adding Value
To align with the purpose of this paper, I have included four ways in which value may be added to finger millet to transform it from a raw commodity into a product that will sell for a higher price. The ideals of Lu and Dudensing have been considered and are present in all four of these solutions. I believe that these strategies will be the most effective in assisting subsistence farmers in rural areas.
Composite Flours
The alteration of finger millet from a raw grain into a flour improves sales by making it more useable and increasing the value of it through the added labour (Verma & Patel, 2013). However, combining finger millet flour with wheat flour makes the flour easier to sell, as there is a higher demand for combined flours than finger millet alone (Jaybhaye et al., 2014). The flour can be used to make porridge or baked goods such as cookies, breads and cakes (Taylor, 2017). In order to produce flours, farmers require access to milling equipment; a milling machine specific to millets has been produced in India, however the cheapest way of grinding millets into a flour is through a simple mortar and pestle (all of this equipment is available on alibaba.com - see additional resources) (National Research Council, 1996). The purchase of milling equipment (especially automated ones) is a longer term investment, which may be highly costly upfront, but will reduce the labour required and increase income in the long run (Verma & Patel, 2013). The issue of power is one which must be considered, specifically for farmers in rural areas, but this can be combated with hand grinders or a mortar and pestle. While this method of adding value can be highly laborious, the higher demand for millet flours is a larger market than for millet as a raw commodity making it a better product to sell for farmers. Currently, finger millet grain prices range from around 36 to 60 rupees/kg on Indiamart.com, whereas finger millet flours sell for between 55 to 100 rupees/kg; this displays how value can be added to the grain through milling. Since millets are mostly eaten by traditional consumers, farmers should try to target urban consumers (especially non-millet consumers) with their value addition products in order to enhance income by increasing the quantity of millet consumers (Verma & Patel, 2013). Individuals performing at home baking with wheat flour should also be part of the target market as millet can be used to bake with and increases the nutritional value of such goods (Taylor, 2017).
Packaging and Marketing
In combination with improved packaging and marketing (which are also value addition ideas), millet flours have a real ability to enhance subsistence farmer incomes. Packaging is a simple way of improving value in a product. By making the product appear more attractive, it is more appealing towards potential customers. One way of improving such would be adding finger millet recipes (breads, porridges) onto the packaging. It is possible through operations such as alibaba.com to customize packaging to each individual farmer, to create local family brands. The proper packaging can also combat pests and diseases, allowing flour to have an improved shelf life (Indiramma, 2008). There are possibilities to extend the shelf life of flours with the use of polyethylene bags (available through both Alibaba.com and Indiamart.com), which have demonstrated the ability to preserve wheat flours for increased periods of time (Nasir et al., 2003). With improved packaging, millet flours can then be sold into local stores like Paul Gitonga from Kenya did: he realized the value that came from packaging and selling his own products and formed a successful small business based on the concept of value added flours (Marete, 2018). The addition of packaging to their products would be beneficial to subsistence farmers because the value added to their grains would improve sales and allow them to receive higher rates of return on their products.
Farmer Coalitions/Cooperatives
Farmer coalitions are an important aspect of increasing value of sales, especially for cereal producers in sub-Saharan Africa (Bernard & Spielman, 2009). A cooperative is a formal “farmer collective action for the marketing and processing of farm products and or for the purchase and production of farm inputs” ("Agricultural Cooperatives", 2018). They are important for smallholder farmers as they reduce transaction costs, improve marketing and bargaining power and increase access to markets ("Agricultural Cooperatives", 2018). Coalitions tend to be more effective if organized with a bottom up approach, that is, when farmers themselves run them. In addition, the joining of a coalition may increase a farmer’s abilities to purchase improved equipment, which can assist in adding value to their products ("Agricultural Cooperatives", 2018) (“Small farm,” 2014). This is relevant when considering adding value to millet through grinding the grains into flours. Coalitions also provide a link between members in supply chains which can be beneficial to farmers because it allows farmers more control of the supply, and sales of their products (Parcell, Brees, & Gideon, 2018).
Ready-to-eat Products
The transformation of raw grains into alternate ready-to-eat products adds value and improves sales of finger millet crops (Verma & Patel, 2013). There are multiple ways to alter the raw state of finger millet grains including malting, fermenting, puffing and popping, however malting and fermentation require higher amounts of labour than the latter. Puffing and popping convert millets into a breakfast cereal or a ready to eat snack food, which is ideal as snack foods are “one of the most important areas of the food industry” (Mishra et al., 2014). In combination with improved packaging and branding this can greatly increase sales from a raw commodity (Verma & Patel, 2013). The increased demand for ready-to-eat products causes there to be a higher value placed on them, meaning that farmers are able to sell them for a higher price than they would be able to for millet as a raw commodity. There is an increased need for equipment, such as air poppers, in order to make millet into a read-to-eat product but the most cost effective methods are simple and easily attained (Jaybhaye et al., 2014). Creation of popped/puffed grains require only a fuel source and a frying pan. Grains must be exposed to a heat source for a high temperature, short time period for maximum optimality of popping/puffing (Jaybhaye et al., 2014). One way is to simply place grains in a heated frying pan, let millet sit for a few minutes, stir and then remove from heat once all grains are popped (LeafTV Editor, 2018). There are also methods of sand or salt roasting grains to pop them - see additional resources.
Critical Analysis
There are many issues associated with altering subsistence farming and many of them are related to the fact that it often occurs in rural and remote locations. It may prove to be difficult to acquire additional products and equipment; most of it is ordered online and without access to computers or internet, this may be a challenging process. Many of the processes which add value to finger millet also increases the amount of labour that farmers must perform. Also, many coalitions require financing and members should be trained to maximize success. Often they require the support of NGO’s in order to get started, which may make them dependent on them for organization and control (“Small farm”, 2014). Furthermore, the alteration of grains into flours causes a decrease in the length of storage time, as finger millet grains can be stored for months at a time with little changes in quality, whereas flour tends to go rancid quickly (FAO, 1996).
Additional Resources
Alibaba.com is a global resource which connects suppliers and consumers to products. Bags for storing grains, equipment to pop/puff grains and resources needed to grind are all available through this site, often at various affordable costs: https://www.alibaba.com/
Many of the same resources supplied by Alibaba.com are also available at Indiamart.com, an online resource that supplies India. This is useful for many of the finger millet farmers situated in India: https://www.indiamart.com
CLL is a online operation that allows consumers to customize packaging on their products for low prices: https://ccllabel.com
The FAO provides a manual to help people start and maintain functioning agricultural cooperatives: http://www.fao.org/3/a-x0475e.pdf
Salt and sand roasting are also methods of popping/puffing millet grains (same method as with rice): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMbt6Xv5O4Y
An easy way to toast/pop millet grains is just in a pan, if a fuel source is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acD8yMMQ3tg
This video shows rice (same method is used for finger millet) being puffed with black sand in a rural area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTpWCSJf4Ro
References
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