Provifi millet products launched in Kalaburagi

Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff and others launching Provifi Foods activated millet products in Kalaburagi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff launched millet products at a programme at the Krishikalpa office in the Gajipura area of Kalaburagi on Wednesday.The products include foxtail millet (navane), barnyard millet (udalu), little millet (same), kodo millet (haraka) and browntop millet (korale).Appreciating the initiative, Mr. Shariff said that the products can help make nutritious traditional foods more accessible to consumers at a time when awareness about healthy eating is growing.He wished three entrepreneurs Prashant S. Bellerimath, Mahesh V. Patil and Nagraj Maralingannavar success in their venture.The founders, who have moved from corporate careers into entrepreneurship, are seeking to build a consumer brand around millets while creating greater value and market opportunities for farmers.The Krishikalpa Foundation has been supporting them with guidance on product development, processing, marketing and business development.The entrepreneurs said that the millet grain are soaked in water for seven to eight hours, mechanically dried and hygienically packed.The process, they said, is intended to retain the natural qualities of the millet grain while making them more convenient to prepare, particularly for consumers in metropolitan and other urban areas who have limited time for cooking.Mr. Shariff said that the State government has introduced initiatives such as Elevate Karnataka and LEAP to encourage investment and entrepreneurship beyond Bengaluru, including in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.He urged young entrepreneurs in the region to make use of such opportunities.Krishikalpa Foundation CEO C.M. Patil said that the organisation is working to help start-ups understand market requirements, develop and process products and create value-added offerings.The foundation’s programmes provide entrepreneurs with mentorship, market linkages, industry connections and funding support.He said that the launch of Provifi’s products is aimed at taking traditional millets to consumers in a convenient and contemporary form.“There is no shortage of food in India, but there is a need for adequate nutrition,” he said and stressed the importance of enterprises that combine commercial activity with nutritional and social value.The programme also saw the launch of UDAAN – Kalyana Karnataka Start-up Challenge 2026, an initiative of the Krishikalpa Foundation to identify and support emerging entrepreneurs, innovators and early stage start-ups in the region.Select ventures will receive mentorship, market access, pilot opportunities, funding and investor connections, training and networking opportunities.Mr. Patil said that Krishikalpa has so far incubated 18 start-ups, while another 14 are undergoing pre-incubation.More than 1,500 students have also been reached through entrepreneurship awareness programmes conducted in educational institutions across Kalyana Karnataka.Officials and representatives of the start-up ecosystem, including DIC Joint Director Abdul Azeem, Krishikalpa Foundation Vice-President Iranna Rotte, Head of Yuva Entrepreneurship Abhinandan Kavale, entrepreneur Doddappa Nisty and others were present. Published - August 27, 2026 08:41 pm IST