Export potential of millets from India: Current status and short-term forecast

This study examined the status and trends of millet exports from India and forecasts future exports based on monthly export data and the ARIMA-TDNN model. Millets, also known as nutri cereals, have been gaining attention for their potential to achieve food and nutritional security sustainably. The Indian government launched several initiatives to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets following the 2018 declaration of the National Year of Millets. Subsequently, the UN General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. India is a significant producer of millets, accounting for 17 per cent of the global cultivation area and 18 per cent of the world’s millet production. The average yield of millets in India is 1.40 t/ha, exceeding the global average. However, India accounts for less than 2 per cent of the world's millet exports. Keywords: Bajra, export, forecasting, neural network, nutri cereals, ragi, sorghum. JEL Codes: C53, Q17, Q18.