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Cereal & grain

Millet: what can it become?

A drought-tolerant cereal that can be processed into flour, porridge mixes, drinks and animal feed.

  1. Raw millet
  2. Processing
  3. Value-added products
  4. Packaging
  5. Markets
  6. Customers

Traditionally, millet is dehulled by moistening, pounding and winnowing, and milled flour cooks faster than whole grain. Cleaning, dehulling and milling make it easier to use and sell. Pearl millet flour can turn rancid, so good processing and packing help protect its value.

What can millet become?

Millet flour

Flour made by cleaning, dehulling and milling millet grain.

Processing
Clean the grain, remove the outer layers, then mill to flour and sift. Pearl millet flour can turn rancid, so good processing and packing matter.
Equipment
  • Cleaning and destoning equipment
  • Dehuller
  • Mill
  • Sifter
Packaging
Packaging with good moisture and oxygen barrier properties, filled under dry conditions, helps delay rancidity.
Storage
Dry, cool, off-the-floor storage away from pests and damp.
Customer types
  • Households
  • Bakers and small food makers
  • Retailers
  • Schools and institutions
Distribution
Sold to local shops and supermarkets, bakers, or through a wholesaler.
Possible business models
  • Own small processing unit
  • Contract milling for farmers
  • Buy-process-resell

Dehulled millet grain

Millet with the outer layers removed, ready for cooking or milling.

Processing
Moisten or soak the grain lightly, pound or machine-decorticate it, then winnow to separate the bran from the grain.
Equipment
  • Winnowing trays
  • Mortar and pestle or decorticator
  • Cleaning equipment
  • Sacks
Packaging
Clean, dry, food-safe bags with clear labelling.
Storage
Dry, cool, off-the-floor storage away from pests and damp.
Customer types
  • Households
  • Market traders
  • Retailers
Distribution
Sold in markets and shops, or to small millers.
Possible business models
  • Contract decorticating for farmers
  • Buy-process-resell

Millet porridge mixes

Ready-to-cook mixes made from millet flour or malt, sometimes blended with legumes.

Processing
Mill millet or millet malt and blend it with other ingredients such as legumes, then pack the mix.
Equipment
  • Roaster
  • Mill
  • Blender or mixer
  • Bag sealer
Packaging
Moisture-resistant sachets or bags with ingredients and cooking instructions.
Storage
Dry, cool storage away from sunlight, pests and damp.
Customer types
  • Households
  • Health-conscious consumers
  • Schools and nutrition programmes
Distribution
Sold through shops, markets and supermarkets, or to institutions.
Possible business models
  • Own small processing unit
  • Buy-process-resell
  • Supply to institutions

Fermented millet drinks

Drinks made from fermented or germinated millet.

Processing
Millet is germinated or fermented to make drinks; in Kenya, alcoholic beverages and dumplings are prepared from germinated sorghum and millet.
Equipment
  • Soaking and germination setup
  • Mill
  • Fermentation vessels
  • Clean filling equipment
Packaging
Clean, food-safe bottles or containers, clearly labelled.
Storage
Keep cool and clean; fermented drinks need careful hygiene.
Customer types
  • Local drink buyers
  • Eating and drinking places
  • Retailers
Distribution
Sold locally through shops and venues.
Possible business models
  • Own small drink unit
  • Supply to local sellers

Bran and by-products for animal feed

The bran (outer layers) left after dehulling, which can be used as animal feed.

Processing
Collect the bran separated during dehulling and milling, and feed it to animals.
Equipment
  • Collection bins
  • Sacks
  • Mixing area
Packaging
Sacks kept dry and clean.
Storage
Store dry and away from pests, and use before it spoils.
Customer types
  • Livestock keepers
  • Feed mixers
  • Poultry keepers
Distribution
Sold locally to livestock and poultry keepers.
Possible business models
  • By-product sales from a processing unit
  • Supply to feed makers

The customers, routes to market, business models and many practical tips on this page are suggestions, not findings. Know something better? Suggest an improvement →

Business opportunities around millet

Sources and further reading

The handling, processing and storage information on this page draws on the sources below. The lists of customers, distribution routes and business models are practical suggestions, not findings from these sources. Links open in a new tab.

Examples describe possibilities, not guaranteed results. Prices, demand and rules vary by country and season — verify locally.