International Year of Millets 2023

PWOnlyIAS December 14, 2023 05:50 2380 0

The year 2023 has been recognised as the International Year of Millets by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations.

Questionnaire

What is the International Year of Millets?
Who has declared the International Year of Millets?
What is the significance of the International Year of Millet?
What are Millets?
What are some of the popular varieties of millets grown in India?
Which are the other countries where Millets are grown in large numbers?
What are the Advantages of Growing Millets?
Is there a regional variation in Millet Production in India?
Steps taken by the Government of India to Popularize Millets?
Which are the most popular exported varieties of Millets?
Why is the Government of India promoting millets? How can millets solve the issue of hidden hunger in India?
India has a poor performance in the Global Hunger Index. Do you think the promotion of millets can help improve our rank?

Context: The year 2023 has been recognised as the International Year of Millets by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations.

What is the International Year of Millets?

The Government of India had proposed to the United Nations to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM).

Who has declared the International Year of Millets?

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets after the proposal was supported by 72 countries.
Objectives:
- Creating awareness of the contribution of millet to Food Security and nutrition.
- It seeks to inspire stakeholders to improve the sustainable production and quality of millets.
- Try to enhance investment in research and development in the field of millets.

What is the significance of the International Year of Millet?

Livelihood for Small Farmers: Millets cultivation has the potential to be a source of income for small farmers, who need help to afford high input costs.
Sustainable Development: Inculcating millets in our diets can reduce the ecological footprint of food consumption, especially from methane emissions. It will also conserve water.
Food Security: The threat of climate change is real and the impact of such will be on agriculture. Millets will play a vital role in ensuring food security for the world.
Promote Biodiversity: Conserving and protecting millets will help in improving genetic diversity and sustainability of the system.
Tackle Malnutrition: Millets are a nutritious source of food. Consumption of millets has the potential to tackle the problem of malnutrition.

What are Millets?

Millets are small-seeded annual grasses that are cultivated primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions.
Millets Across the World:
- With 55% of global production, India, Nigeria, and China are the largest producers of millets.
Millets in India:
- Global Share: With 20 % of global production and 80% of production in Asia, India is the world’s largest producer of millet.
  - In 2020, India was one of the biggest producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent.
  - Compared to 2020, India witnessed 27 percent growth in millet production in 2021-22.

What are some of the popular varieties of millets grown in India?

Popular Varieties: Ragi (Finger millet), Sama (Little millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl millet), and Variga (Proso millet) are commonly available in India.
Top Indian States: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka are the major millet-producing states.
Export Share: currently, the share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production. Exports of value-added products of millets from India are negligible.
Major Export Destinations: The U.A.E, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, the U.K, and the U.S.A. are major export destinations of Indian millets.
Popular Exported Millets: Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat are the millet varieties exported by India.

Which are the other countries where Millets are grown in large numbers?

Apart from India, other countries where millets are grown are Chad, Nigeria, China, Senegal, Sudan, Ethiopia etc.

Is there a regional variation in Millet Production in India?

Rajasthan has the highest area under millet cultivation, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Which are the most popular exported varieties of Millets?

Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat are the millet varieties exported by India. U.A.E, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, the U.K., and the U.S.A. are major export destinations of Indian millets.

What is the Importance of Millets?

Nutrition Capacity: Compared to cereals, millets contains many vital nutrients that are vital for a healthy body. They are a source of protein, fiber, key vitamins, and minerals.
Drought Resistant: Millets can be grown in dry soil. They do not require much water for their survival, making them suitable for large parts of the world.
Lower cost: The input costs for millet cultivation are very low as these crops do not require high amounts of fertilizers, water, or pesticides.
Variety of Conditions: Millets can grow in a variety of climatic conditions, having the capability to survive heat waves, frost, rainfall, etc.
Health Benefits: Millets are a good source of antioxidants. Their consumption can help in the control of diabetes, blood pressure, obesity, etc.

What are the major activities to be held under the International Year of Millet?

Popularizing Millets: Under the initiative, steps will be taken to build support and organize the market, promote, and develop effective market linkages for millet-based products across the world.
Eat Right India: It is a citizen-centric flagship initiative for social and behavioral change to ensure that everyone has access to safe, healthy, and sustainable diets.
Millet Food: Involving students to create innovative foods enriched with millets, to contribute to the popularization of the grain.
Millet Conference: India hosted the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference to spread awareness on the use of millets.

How to Popularize Millets?

Spreading Health Benefits: Millets can be popularized by spreading their health benefits. For that to happen, research into its functioning has to be conducted.
Using Influencers: Social media influencers, celebrities, sportspersons, chefs, etc have to be convinced to spread the importance of millets among the new generation.
Easy Availability: Millets will only become popular if available easily across the world. For that to happen, supply chain linkages have to be strengthened.
Affordability: The prices of millets and their products must be such that they can be afforded by the common man. This will make it an attractive alternative to cereals.
Offering Subsidies: Farmers must be persuaded to shift towards millet cultivation by offering them subsidies, including MSP.
Introducing new Varieties: Agricultural research institutes must research to develop new varieties of millets to suit farmers’ needs.
Value addition: The best way to popularize millets is by popularizing millet products. For that to happen, value addition must take place.

Steps taken by the Government of India to Popularize Millets?

International Promotional Activities: The Indian government is likely to hold promotional activities in countries such as South Africa, UAE, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs): The government will involve the participation of exporters, traders, and farmers in 16 international trade expos and Buyer Seller Meets (BSMs).
Branding and Publicity: Indian missions abroad will work towards branding and publicity of Indian millets.
Involving Foreign Diplomats: Diplomats of targeted countries and potential importers would be invited to showcase various millet-based products.
Food Fairs and Platforms: Indian millets would be shown on global food platforms such as Gulfood 2023, Foodex, Seoul Food & Hotel Show, Saudi Agro Food, San Francisco’s Winter Fancy Food Show, etc.
Promoting Startups: Start-ups involved in exports of value-added products in the Ready to Eat (RTE) and Ready to Serve (RTS) categories will be supported.

Why is the Government of India promoting millets?

Diverse Nutrition: The Government of India promotes millets as they offer a rich source of diverse nutrients, including proteins, fiber, and micronutrients.
- Integrating millets into diets addresses malnutrition and enhances overall health, especially among vulnerable populations.
Climate Resilience: Millets are hardy crops that require minimal water and can thrive in diverse climates.
- Promoting millet cultivation contributes to agricultural sustainability and climate resilience, aligning with the government’s efforts to address climate change challenges.
Farmers’ Livelihoods: Encouraging millet cultivation supports farmers by diversifying crops and increasing income opportunities.
- Millets are well-suited for small and marginal farmers, fostering agricultural sustainability and rural development.
Biodiversity Conservation: Millets contribute to biodiversity by being adaptable to various agroecological zones, promoting sustainable farming practices, and preserving genetic diversity in agriculture.

How can millets solve the issue of hidden hunger in India?

Nutrient-Rich Millets: Millets are nutrient-dense, containing essential vitamins and minerals, making them an effective solution to the hidden hunger prevalent in India.
Dietary Diversity: Integrating millets diversify diets, providing a range of nutrients often lacking in conventional staples.
- This helps address hidden hunger by ensuring a more balanced and comprehensive nutritional intake.
Micronutrient Accessibility: Millets enhance accessibility to crucial micronutrients like iron, zinc, and calcium, combating deficiencies associated with hidden hunger and promoting overall health.
Targeting Vulnerable Populations: Promoting millet consumption is especially beneficial for vulnerable groups, including women and children, who are more susceptible to hidden hunger, contributing to a holistic approach to nutritional well-being in India.

India has a poor performance in the Global Hunger Index. Do you think the promotion of millets can help improve our rank?

Millets for Nutritional Security: Promoting millets in India can potentially improve the nation’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranking by addressing nutritional deficiencies.
Dietary Enrichment: Millets, being rich in essential nutrients, offer a practical solution to enhance dietary diversity and combat malnutrition, a significant factor in GHI.
Sustainable Agriculture: Encouraging millet cultivation aligns with sustainable agriculture, bolstering food security and positively impacting the GHI by ensuring a stable and diverse food supply.
Empowering Farmers: Millet promotion supports small-scale farmers, fostering economic resilience and contributing to poverty reduction, which, in turn, correlates with improved food security and a potential positive shift in the GHI ranking.

Conclusion:

Millets are not just important for empowering small and marginal farmers. they will play a vital role in climate-smart agriculture and also ensure the food security of the world.

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