Startups gear up to woo city at international millet fair today

Startups across Bengaluru are looking to participate in the international organic and millets fair, which will kickstart on Friday, with an aim to showcase a wide range of products, including snacks, food mixes and cakes.    

One such entity is Grami, a two-year-old startup that specialises in millet cookies.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase our products and also promote startups like ours," said Jayakumar, founder of Grami. He felt that with the government promoting such a venture, millets will have an impact on the country.

Mamtha, founder of Easy Food Ventures that provides breakfast mixes, said that millet-based products are yet to find a place in the commercial market.

Moms know best  

Two mothers aim to use the event to promote their products, meant exclusively for children.

"We make cookies, pancakes and other products for children from millets, which is highly nutritious," said Meghana Narayan, co-founder of Slurrp Farm.

Meghana, along with her friend Shauravi Malik, conceived the idea of Slurrp Farm a year ago as they wanted to provide nutritious food to children.

"Children are excited when we give dosas and idlis that are pink or green. If we choose the right millet, we can bring in the colour so that children are enticed into eating it," Meghana said.

Many of the startups are first-timers at the fair, which will end on Sunday, while there are a few who have participated in the national millet exhibition in 2017.  

Farmers, buyers, sellers and exporters of organic produce and millets are expected to participate in the fair.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, G Sathish, commissioner, department of agriculture, Karnataka, said the fair will also host a series of discussions, demonstrations and contests to increase awareness on the health benefits of millets.