Modi government has been successful in getting the year 2023 declared as the international day of millets by United Nations general assembly and it is a welcome development for India. It has made this crystal clear that India’s voice is being heard and its suggestions are being accepted by the international community. The declaration of 2023 as the international year of millets by UNGA is not simple development but it is an extraordinary feat and India’s status has increased by this declaration by the world body.
As proposed by India, United Nations general assembly-UNGA has declared 2023 as international year of Millets (IYM). Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to make IYM a people’s movement and also to position India as the Global Hub for Millets. On 6th December 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, organized an opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets-2023 at Rome, Italy. The event was attended by delegation of senior government officials from India. International Year of Millets (IYM) 223 Kick starts with focused activities being undertaken by central ministries, state governments and Indian embassies. Spearheaded by PM Narendra Modi ,the government of India sponsored the proposal for the International Year of Millets(IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the united nations general assembly (UNGA).The declaration has been instrumental for the government of India to be at the forefront in celebrating the IYM.
The PM of India Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023 a people’s movement alongside positioning India as the global Hub for Millets. Millets were among the first crops to be domesticated in India with several evidence of its consumption during the Indus Valley Civilization being grown in more than 130 countries at present ,Millets are considered traditional food for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa. In India ,millets are primarily a Kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs than other smaller staples. Millets are important by virtue of its mammoth potential to generate livelihoods ,increase farmers income and ensure food and nutritional security all over the world. Recognising the enormous potential of millets ,which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the government of India (GOI) has prioritized Millets. In April 2018,millets were rebranded as ‘’Nutri Cereals’’ followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets ,aiming at larger promotion and demand generation. The global millets market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period between 2021-2026.As noted at the outset on 6th December , the FAO of the united nations ,organized an opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets -2023 at Rome Italy.
The event was attended by a delegation of senior officers of India. Next in the series , prior to the yearlong celebrations of the International Year of Millets (IYM) ,the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare hosted a special Millet Luncheon for the members of the parliament at parliament house. The department of A&FW has taken a proactive multi-stakeholder engagement approach (engaging all central government ministries, states /UTs ,farmers ,start –ups exporters businesses, hotels ,Indian embassies etc.) to achieve the aim if IYM 2023 and taking Indian millets globally. Ministries, states and Indian embassies have been allocated focused months in 2023 to carry out various activities for the promotion of IYM and increase awareness about the benefits of millets for the consumer, cultivator and climate. The government is making concerted push, both domestically and abroad, to boost the production and consumption of millets.
Millets have been made an integral part of the G-20 meetings and delegates will give a true millet experience through tasting , meeting farmers and interactive sessions with start-ups and FPOs. The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has planned and implemented 15 activities in January as it is engaging sports persons, nutritionists and fitness experts through video conferencing, conducting webinars on millets with leading nutritionists, dieticians, and elite athletes. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has organized Millet Fair-cum-exhibitions in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
FSSAI has organized Eat Right Melas in Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Chattisgrah ,Mizoram, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttrakhand and Punjab are scheduled to carry out specific activities for sensitization and promotion of IYM besides conducting millet centric activities including mahotsavs/ meals and food festivals, training farmers, awareness campaigns ,workshops/seminars placement of hoardings and distribution of promotional material in January. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has participated in trade show in Belgium where it has showcased the diversity of Indian millets. Indian embassies across more than 140 countries will be participating in celebrations of IYM during 2023 by conducting side events involving the Indian Diaspora through exhibitions, seminars, talks, and panel discussions.
Millets are primarily grown during the Kharif season in rained areas as these crops require less water and agricultural inputs than other cereals. Millet production has great potential to generate livelihood, increase farmers income and ensure food and nutritional security, not only in India but also in other parts of the world. Unless consumption is increased, the demand will not be generated to motivate farmers for shifting to millets. Increasing consumption in India will help improve people’s health since millets contain many nutrients and minerals crucial for the human body. Millets are rich in dietary fiber and this helps control blood pressure and sugar levels. Though the awareness of the health benefits of millets has improved post-Covid, there is still a long way to go. Production of millets is crucial to promote its consumption and meeting future demand. Even though MSP of millets (Ragi, Bajra and Jowar) has been raised by 80-125 per cent between 2013-14 and 2021-22, their combined production has dropped by 7% to 15.6 million tons during the last eight years. While Bajra output has been stagnant , both Jowar and Ragi production has declined.
This points to the requirement of policy level intervention so that farmers get remunerative prices for millets and their returns become higher than the crop such as paddy. APEDA has set a target of dollar 100 million millet exports by 2023-24 from dollar 64.28 million in 2021-22.The consumption and demand for millets is increasing in India and may also increase in other countries of the world thank to the declaration of 2023 as the international year of millets. The need and importance as well as the focus on the production and consumption will also increase in the days to come and it will prove a boon to the health of the mankind and thus the earnest and concerted efforts should be made to increase the production, consumption and demand of millets so that there will be a real revolution in the millet production and consumption as it has a good nutritional and dietary value. The declaration of 2023 as the international year of the millets will result in the due recognition to this cereal and it will also lead to boom in the production and consumption of millets not only in India but in other countries of the world.

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