Vol. 7, Issue 4, Part C (2025)

This study investigates consumer awareness and consumption patterns of millet-based products at the Millet Café in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Millets, ancient grains with high nutritional value and climate resilience, are gaining renewed attention in India due to initiatives like the International Year of Millets (2023). A total of 75 respondents were selected using convenience sampling, and data were collected through structured questionnaires, interviews, and staff feedback. Analytical tools included descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests conducted via SPSS and Excel. The findings reveal a significant association between the level of awareness and consumption frequency of millet-based products (p = 0.029), indicating that consumers with higher awareness are more likely to consume millets regularly. However, no significant association was found between the source of awareness and consumption pattern (p = 0.986), suggesting that how consumers learn about millets does not significantly impact their consumption behavior. Popular products included millet chila and pakora, while lesser-known items like millet pizza and laddu had lower awareness and usage. Word of mouth (44%) and social media (32%) emerged as the most influential sources of awareness. Consumers showed price sensitivity, with preferences for products priced between ₹50-₹100 and in quantities of 500g-1kg. Key challenges identified were high product cost and limited consumer knowledge, while demands included better taste, variety, and packaging. This study emphasizes the role of awareness in driving millet consumption and suggests that targeted educational campaigns could further enhance millet adoption in urban diets.