RUDRAPUR: The Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) in Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, has secured a patent for an innovative Finger Millet Dehuller-cum-Pearler, a machine designed to enhance the edibility and commercial value of finger millet.
The project was led by scientists Navin Chandra Shahi, former scientists Anupama Singh, Khan Chand, TP Singh, and MTech student Shivshankar Verma, in collaboration with the department of Post-Harvest Process and Food Engineering and the department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering.
With Uttarakhand yielding approximately 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of finger millet annually across 88,500ha, this crop holds regional importance. However, its tough, fibrous, and waxy outer layers have traditionally restricted its use as whole-grain flour. The machine effectively removes these layers, improving the grain’s suitability for consumption and enhancing its market potential.
Alaknanda Ashok, dean of the college, said, “It took two years to develop this machine, which will provide considerable benefits to millet farmers in the state.” Vice-chancellor Manmohan Singh Chauhan said the achievement, calling it “a proud milestone for the university and a significant advancement in agricultural innovation.”