International Year of Millets 2023: Here's What You Need to Know!

 International Year of Millets 2023: India's Effort in UN and What You Need to Know

Pearl Millets under Sun Source:Pixabay 

The Context 

India’s rich tradition with millets has been long known. Innumerable sources on how millets formed an integral part of the Indian diet, cuisine, rituals, and society at large has been prominently held. India’s constant initiative of bringing our ‘Nutri cereal’ to the forefront since 2021 has flowered in the form of the United Nations Declaration of 2023 as the “International Year of Millets”.

Recognising the cost-efficient, nutrient-rich, gluten-free qualities of varied millets, the Indian govt. has taken up many steps, provided loans of up to ₹25 lakhs for millet start-ups and raised awareness to create “Millet Mindfulness” as an important part of the movement.

PM Narendra Modi's surfaced India his message during the opening ceremony of the International year of millets at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy:—

“There is a need for diversity on the land and over tables. If agriculture becomes a monoculture it impacts our health and the health of our lands. Millets are a good way to increase agricultural and dietary diversity. Racing awareness to create millet mindfulness is an important part of this movement. Both institutions and individuals can make a tremendous impact. While institutional mechanisms can encourage the production of millets and make it profitable via policy initiatives, individuals can make health-conscious and Planet friendly choices by making millets part of their diet. I am positive that the International Year of Millets 2023 will start a mass movement towards a secure sustainable and healthy future.”

Millets : An essential source of nutrients and dietary fibres

 

What’s the motto behind the movement?

The government’s vision of making the initiative a people’s movement which would be equivalently global has considered certain key facts; they include ensuring efficient processing and consumption, promoting better crop rotational processes, encouraging better connectivity through food systems and last but not least, promote millets as the key ingredient of the daily diet in our food basket.

International Year of Millets logo : Source FAO 

Why choose Millets?

Millets have arguably been one of the oldest crops grown by humans. The food scarcity situations have led mankind to search for more resilient crop shares and Millet is one. The millets can be grown easily, and are climate-resilient and drought resilient. They have helped the farmers deal with water problems owing to their low water requirements.

Millets alongside the traditional food grains can add up to our daily nutrition intake 

Key Takeaways

IYM 2023 aims to contribute to the United Nations Developments Goals 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, taking the SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG8 (Decent work and Economic growth), SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Earth).

Millets: A Grain for Healthy Future

Millets and India have long mutual existence; it has been conspicuously ingrained in our food systems, culture and traditions. Various reference to Millets has existed in our sayings .one such saying is –

“सावां साठी साठ दिन, बरखा बरसे रात दीन।

Even if it rains day and night, Sanwa (Barnyard Millet) and Saathi (a variety of rice) will grow in sixty days.

Another interesting account of Millets is found in the Krishna- Sudama meeting in Srimad Bhagwat, a religious text where on return from Dwarka, Sudama gets his house filled with delicacies.

“कै जुरतो नहीं कोदो सवाँ, प्रभु के परताप तें दाख न भवत।

Earlier it was difficult for him to even afford grains like Kodo  and Sanwa but now they have all kinds of delicacies.”

 

UN Sustainable Development Goals 

Socio-economic Reasons for the Gradual Fall of Millets

Millets as we consider them today have once lost their charm and pushed back to be called the meal of the poor or the frugal meal of the destitute section of society. Although these miracle grains have ever found their place in our dishes, yet a significant decline in social stature and anti-slogans supporting cash crops rather than millet. The famous slogan in Madhya Pradesh “Kodo Kutki Hatao Soyabean lagao” shifted the focus of our farmers to oilseeds.

Myths and Misconceptions

Several misappropriation and myths existed which pushed back the popularity of millets. According to a study, there has been found a significant gap between people surveys like – those who were health conscious (91%) and those who were sure millets were healthy (40%). These instances led to a decline in Millet’s popularity. But to the rescue, with the genuine efforts of the Indian Govt. at the UN since 2021, India has successfully influenced the world to adopt  Millets and declare the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

 

What Favoured this acceptance?

The rise of Celiac Disease in the European and American Markets where gluten-free food has become a rising necessity. Millets get the jackpot here being naturally Gluten-free. Indian government's initiative to air startups, raise awareness programmes and help in their availability in the market has been a significant move in the success of this event.

Also, millet has healing powers too. An August 2021 study concludes that the consumption of Millets reduces hyperlipidaemia and thus hypertension raises the levels of good cholesterol.

 

Let’s look at some popular Millets –

•Bajra and Makai for Winter : Eat them with jaggery

•Jowar for summer : eat them with chutney

•Ragu/Nachni can be eaten year round.

•Fox Millets, Proso Millet of North – Eastern India

 Hence, with so much positive to themselves Millets have come to the forefront and we must strive to make India's effort successful observing the International Year of Millets 2023.