I Went For A Meal At The Agri Ministry's 'Millet Experience Centre': Here's My Experience Of It

Dilli Haat-INA along with Chandni Chowk, and Connaught Place have become the go-to spots for film and web series shoots.

Last weekend, I explored the Dilli Haat-INA, the food and craft bazaar, that is currently getting a makeover ahead of the G20 summit in September. And here I’ll take you through my walk in Delhi’s bustling open-air market.

The real highlight, however, was the first-of-its-kind 'Millet Experience Centre.' This unique space showcases all things millets, from a variety of recipes to easy-to-make products created by an Indian homegrown startup.

First-of-Its-Kind­—The Millet Experience Centre: The Place For All ‘Shree Anna’ Recipes And Products

For centuries, millets have been an essential part of India's culinary culture, serving as a staple food for many. In the Union Budget 2023-24, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman referred to millets as "Shree Anna" or "the mother of all grains".

This humble crop, once overlooked and underrated, is finally receiving the recognition it deserves.

Also, in March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference in New Delhi, which focused on important issues related to millets such as their promotion, value chain development, health and nutritional aspects, market linkages, and research and development.

Amid the revamp at Dilli Haat, the food bazar has received a unique addition with the opening of first-of-its-kind 'Millet Experience Centre’ on 28 February this year, though, the inauguration took place only last month on 28 April 2023.

Established by NAFED and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the center aims to promote millets among the public and raise awareness about their benefits. It is a step towards encouraging people to adopt millets as a healthier food option.

On interaction with the employees at the MEC, when asked about the footfalls and sales since the restaurant opened, one of them said: “Bahut log aatey hai, Sales kaafi achi ho rahi hai, expecially weekends par double rehti hai, 60-70 plus rehti hai (A lot of people come here, sales are impressive, especially on weekends as it doubles).”

The manager, Tejpal said: “We do good on weekends, but on weekdays, presently, not many people visit. However, since its inauguration last week, we have witnessed increase in footfalls.”

At the MEC, the most often ordered food items, said Tejpal are Ragi Pizza, Millet Dosa, Millet Papdi Chaat. I tried the Ragi Pizza and Papdi Chaat, and to my surprise, they were guilt-free treats! These dishes were light, healthy, and had a good taste as well.

Apart from a variety of millet flour, flakes, and rice, the center also offers a range of ready-to-make millet products from the Indian startup, Slurrp Farm, such as pancakes, noodles, dosa, upma, flakes, and more in various flavors.

Rohit Kumar, who works in Slurrp Farm, said that people have a lot of queries regarding which product or millet is best for different seasons or for specific dietary requirements, such as for diabetic patients.

“Jab se government millets promote kar rahi hai, kaafi log aatey hai, kehte hai Modi ji baat kar rahe hai iske baare mein, kya hai ye millet (Ever since the government began promoting millets, many people come and say that we have heard PM Modi talk about millet, what is it).

Kyunki logon ko pata hi nahi hai, logon ko ragi, jawar bas yahi sab pata hai, jabki nau se das type ke millets hotey hai (Because people do not know that well about millets, they only know Ragi, Jowar, while there are nine to ten types of millets).

“Toh log atey hai, dekhte hai ki arrey, itne saare type ke millets hote hai, unhein bhi acha lagta hai, ki chalo khatey hai (So when people come and they see the different types of millets, they are often surprised and excited to try our products)),” he explained.

Their best-selling products are pancakes, noodles and dosa, says Kumar, adding that since the government started promoting millets, the company has expanded its range of flavours for some of their products such as noodles and pancakes.

I purchased a blueberry pancake of Slurrp Farm. It turned out delicious, and easy-to-make.

Since its founding in 1994, Dilli Haat has been the beating heart of cultural exchange in the national capital. With artisans and food vendors from all over India, it's a vibrant hub for traditional textiles and local cuisine.

Crafted as a means of preserving India's heritage, this bustling market attracts about 2,000-6,000 visitors daily. It was designed by Union Ministry of Textiles, the State Tourism Department, and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation.

And now, with the ongoing renovation work, the market is undergoing a complete facelift with changes to the flooring, roofing, and lighting.

Expected to be completed by June end, the revamp of the Haat (market or bazar) will include replacement of slate tiles with tin sheets, and the bamboo thatched roofs with bamboo ply sheets.

Additionally, 40 new CCTV cameras are being installed and the lighting is being revamped to reduce power consumption.

Food Bazar Is Now A Mix Of Both ­— Traditional And Modern

The most significant aspect of the Dilli Haat's renovation project is the standardisation of the food area, which will feature new permanent roof set-ups and modern wooden and metal tables.