International year of Millets 2023:- ‘maximizing millets’ potential for environmental and human well-being.
In order to raise awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of millets, the United Nations Food and Agriculture organisation have designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The 2023 International Year of Millets was proposed by the Indian government.
Millets given their nutritional benefits and flexibility to adopting the climate change. Millets have been a staple of our diet for ages. Millets, in addition to providing several health benefits, are also beneficial to the environment due to their minimal water and input requirements. The United Nations named 2023 the International Year of Millets at the request of the Government of India in order to raise awareness and promote production and consumption of Millets.
The International Year of Millets was established in 2023 by the United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021. In cooperation with other pertinent stakeholders, FAO is the primary organization for the Year’s celebration. Millets are tolerant of climatic fluctuations and can be grown on arid lands with few inputs. As a result, they are the perfect way for nations to boost national independence and lessen their dependency on imported cereal grains.
The potential this year will be to increase public awareness of millets health and nutritional advantages as well as their suitability for cultivation in challenging and changing climatic circumstances. Additionally, millets’ potential to open up new sustainable market prospects for both farmers and consumers will be highlighted, along with the Year’s promotion of their sustainable production.
According to the FAO in Rome on opening ceremony of IYM 2023:-
Resilient grains like millets offer an economical and nourishing alternative as the global agrifood systems struggle to feed a growing global population, and initiatives to promote their cultivation need to be scaled up.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters hosted the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYM) opening ceremony on Tuesday.
A wide variety of cereals are referred to as millets, including fonio, sorghum (or big millet), teff, pearl, proso, foxtail, barnyard, small, kodo, browntop, finger, and Guinea millets. Many people in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia rely on them as a major source of food. They contribute to ensuring food security and are firmly ingrained in Indigenous Peoples’ culture and traditions.
Resilient cereals like millets offer a cheap and nourishing alternative, and efforts need to be made in locations where they are culturally relevant as the global agrifood systems struggle to feed a growing global population. Millets are amazing, nutritionally dense, ancient crops. “Millets can play a significant role and contribute to our collective efforts to strengthen smallholder farmers, achieve sustainable development, end hunger, prepare for climate change, advance biodiversity, and transform agrifood systems,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu told attendees at the hybrid event.
Growing millet production can help smallholder farmers support their families and create meaningful jobs for young people and women. Economic growth may be boosted by the generated revenue. Millets may provide a healthier cereal option, but there are production-related dangers that could be shocking.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will benefit from the IYM 2023 and the drive to increase millet production.
“This International Year serves as a critical reminder of this crucial crop. Additionally, it presents a rare opportunity to draw attention to and advocate for policy changes related to the nutritional and health benefits of millet consumption, the suitability of millets for cultivation in challenging and changing climatic conditions.
During the opening ceremony, Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, gave a video message. An announcement from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was made by Shobha Karandlaje, the country’s minister of state for agriculture.
According to NABARD( National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development) Millets were a mainstay in India for many years, but during the green revolution , the focus changed to higher food grain production & productivity using high yielding varieties of wheat & rice in the specified GR areas. As a result, millets were gradually pushed to the side and ignored. Small-grained millets are warm-weather, annual cereals in the grass family. The three most significant millets grown in India are ragi (finger millet), bajra (pearl millet), and jowar (sorghum). We also cultivate small millets such Proso (Cheena), Kodo (Kodra, Arikelu), Fox tail (Kangni/Korra), Barnyard (Varai, Sawa), and Little millet (Kutki). The semiarid tropics rely on millets as their main food source because other food crops cannot be grown there due to inadequate rainfall and deficient soil fertility.
In addition, they guarantee food and nutrition security due to their higher nutrient content when compared to major cereal crops. Additionally, millets are indigenous to these regions due to their tolerance for drought and other adverse climatic conditions. With rising concerns about lifestyle diseases and a culture of “refined” eating, modern consumers are gradually but steadily looking more and more at nutrient-rich millets as a suitable substitute for wheat and rice. As a result of the COVID-19, consumers in both urban and rural areas are now preferring millets to boost their nutrition and immunity.
The Government of India declared millets as Nutri-Cereals in April 2018 in order to promote their cultivation and consumption. These millets include Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua).
Foxtail millet (Kangani/Kakun), Proso millet (Cheena), Kodo millet (Kodo), Barnyard millet (Sawa/Sanwa/Jhangora), Little millet (Kutki), and two pseudo-millets, buckwheat (Kuttu) and amaranthus (Chaulai), are examples of minor millets. The Indian government had asked the UN to designate 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYoM-2023) in order to increase local and international demand for millets and to supply people with nutrient-rich meals. 72 nations agreed with India’s request, and on March 5, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 2023 the International Year of Millets. As a result, on February 1st, 2022, the Honorable Union Finance Minister announced the following budget: The International Year of Millets has been declared to occur in 2023. Enhancing domestic consumption and post-harvest value addition will both receive support.
Millet products are marketed both domestically and abroad. NABARD plans to step up its engagement with millets through pilot initiatives, stakeholder consultations, FPOs, capacity building, publication, etc., in accordance with a GOI notification. This page will summarize NABARD’s initiatives in this area.
International year of millets of the year 2023 events in India held in NABARD Head office Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala and Tripura State.
Types of Millets:-
Around the world, millets, which are very varied small-seeded grasses, are frequently cultivated as cereal grains. The color, size, and shape of millet can range from white to green to yellow to red.
Regarding nutritional value, these are quite high. Each millet is three to five times more nutrient-dense than rice and wheat in terms of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Millets are gluten-free, high in calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins. Because millets have a low GI, they are perfect for people who are allergic to or intolerant to wheat. Diabetics can benefit from consuming millets for weight loss.
Millets have many health benefits Millets have a lot of health benefits for humans, according to certain research. Let’s talk about some of them.
Types of Millets:-
- Finger millet(Ragi)
- Foxtail millet(Kakum/Kagni)
- Sorghum(Jowar)
- Pearl(Bajra)
- Buck wheat(Kuttu)
- Amaranth(Rajgira/Ramdana/Chola)
- Little(Moraiyo/kutki/shavan/sama)
- Barnyard
- Broomcorn
- Kodo
Health benefits of Millets:-
Sustenance Digestive Health
Millets cereal includes fiber that is similar to rolled oats, thus eating it can help regulate bowel movements. Additionally, it contains prebiotics, which promote probiotic growth in the microbiome. This helps to strengthen immunity and digestive health.
Magnificent for those who are gluten intolerant
Millets are a gluten-free cereal, therefore anyone who cannot handle gluten in their food can eat them with confidence. Because of this, millets are found in several varieties of gluten-free oats.
Assists Heart Health Millet provides magnesium, one of the elements that helps the cardiovascular system. The protein adiponectin, which ultimately aids in protecting cardiovascular tissues, will increase as a person consumes millet.
Improves state of mind
One advantage of millet is that it contains large amounts of tryptophan, an amino acid that aids in elevating mood. Millets must be a regular part of the diet of those with anxiety or depression.
Weight management
Those who have struggled with obesity or being overweight should think about incorporating millet into their diet.
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