Pune: The Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board is all set to launch the "Millet Festival 2025" at Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch, Swargate, from January 8 to 12. This festival is organized annually to promote the concept of "Direct Sale from Producers to Consumers," bringing authentic millet products directly to buyers.

The event will feature participation from millet producers across Maharashtra, self-help groups involved in processing, cooperative societies, farmer-producer companies, and startups. Approximately 50 stalls will be set up to offer a wide range of products.

Customers will find various types of millets like sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, barnyard millet, foxtail millet, little millet, and kodo millet, along with innovative value-added products such as sorghum semolina, pearl millet flakes, ragi biscuits, sorghum idli mix, and ragi dosa mix.

In addition to the display and sale, the festival will host lectures by leading experts on millet production, health benefits, and value-added processes. A buyer-seller meet is also scheduled to facilitate connections between producers and consumers.

During a press conference, Sanjay Kadam, Executive Director of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, stated that last year's Millet Festival generated a turnover of ₹1.3 crore across the state, including ₹32 lakh in the Pune region. This year, the festival is expected to surpass ₹2 crore in turnover statewide, with Pune contributing over ₹40 lakh.

The event will be inaugurated on January 9 at 10 AM by Agriculture Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal. Officials including General Manager Kokare, Assistant General Manager Mangesh Kadam, and Animesh Patil were present at the press briefing.

The festival marks the beginning of a statewide initiative, with similar events planned in Mumbai, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Vashi, Amravati, Nagpur, and Latur.