Impact Assessment of Processing of Pearl Millet for Value-Addition and Development of Health Foods

Abstract

The study has assessed the impact of value-addition in pearl millet in terms of monetary benefits and nutritional values. It has revealed that partial replacement of basic ingredient with pearl millet (in flour or blanched grain form) in different food products can provide food and nutrition security besides economic benefits. The costs of these products were lower even after a nominal 5% higher costing. The value-addition in pearl millet in all the baked, traditional and diabetic products has brought positive changes in total economic surplus in both the rural and urban households in the state of Haryana. The benefits by the total economic surplus method have been estimated as Rs 157.72 lakh within a period of ten years after the implementation of the project. It will provide the net present value (NPV) of Rs 259.52 lakh within ten years. The internal rate of return (IRR) has turned out to be as high as 45 per cent. The Pay Back Period (PBP) has been observed as 3 years. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) has been found to be 1: 8.68. These findings have indicated that the project has high economic viability. However, there is a need to gear up the extension agencies to encourage the adoption of this upgraded technology to the target domain, especially in south-western part of the state.