International Year of Millets 2023

International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 UPSC Relevance

International Year of Millets (IYOM): IYOM 2023 was adopted by the United Nations (UN) by accepting the proposal of India for the same. International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 is important for UPSC Prelims 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (International Relations and Food & Nutritional Security).

International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 in News

• Recently, International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 pre-launch celebrations was addressed by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister
• He said that International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 will provide an opportunity to increase global production, efficient processing and better use of crop rotation and promote millets as a major component of the food basket.

International Year of Millets 2023

• About: International Year of Millets 2023 was proposed by the Government of India to the United Nations, which is to be celebrated across the world.
  • The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) approved India’s proposal in 2018 and the United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
  • The International Year of Millets 2023 was adopted by a United Nations Resolution for which India took the lead and was supported by over 70 nations.
• Objective: The International Year of Millets 2023 aims to promote millets as a key component of the food basket. The International Year of Millets stands to provide a unique opportunity-
  • To increase global production,
  • Ensure efficient processing and consumption,
  • Promote a better utilization of crop rotations, and
  • Encourage better connectivity throughout food systems
• Significance: The International Year will-
  • Elevate awareness of the contribution of millets for food security and nutrition
  • Inspire stakeholders on improving sustainable production and quality of millets; and
  • Draw focus for enhanced investment in research and development and extension services to achieve the other two aims.
• Awareness Generation: Millet is a storehouse of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals.
  • International Year of Millets 2022 will raise awareness about the contribution of millets for Food Security and Nutrition, motivate stakeholders for continuous production and quality improvement of millets and attract attention to increase investment in research and development services.

India’s Efforts to Celebrate IYOM 2023

• Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is working in mission mode to increase millet production and consumption in collaboration with other Central Ministries, all State Governments and other stakeholder organizations.
• Under the National Food Security Mission (NFMS), nutritious cereal component for Millets is being implemented in 212 districts of 14 States.
• Government is providing support to Start-up entrepreneurs for recipes and value-added products to promote consumption of millet.
• A series of pre-launch programs and initiatives were also organized on the MyGov platform for the International Year of Millet 2023 to create awareness and a sense of public participation about this ancient nutritious grain (millet).
  • MyGov has become a very important and successful medium for raising awareness through contests.

India’s Millets Production

According to the fourth advance estimates for the year 2021-22:

• About 16 million tonnes millets have been produced in India, which is about 5 percent of the national food grain basket.
• It has the highest market share of 9.62 million tonnes, followed by jowar with a production of 4.23 million tonnes.
• Ragi is another important millet, which contributes to the production of 1.70 million tonnes and the production of other millets is 0.37 million tonnes.

Benefits of Millets

• Due to its ability to be easily preserved for a long time even under ordinary conditions, coarse grain is considered a storehouse in times of famine.
• Millets have been among the oldest eatables in the country. It is a crop grown from small seeds which can be grown well in dry areas or even on lands with deficient and low fertility thus is known as the superfood of India.
• Due to their short growing season, millets can develop from seeds to ready-to-harvest crops in just about 65 days and this characteristic of the millets is of vital importance in thickly populated regions of the world. If stored properly, millets can keep well for two years or beyond.
• There is a need to mainstream millets to improve India’s nutrition outcomes.
• The major millets producing states in India include Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Nutritional benefit of millets

• They are rich in minerals and B-complex vitamins, as well as proteins and antioxidants, making them an ideal choice for improving the nutritional outcome of children.
• However, despite such benefits, consumption of millets remains low due to lack of awareness and availability.
• As per National Family Health Survey-IV, 38 per cent of children under five years of age are stunted and 59 per cent of children are suffering from anaemia.
• Among one of the series of initiatives, to reduce malnutrition and anaemia, the Government is laying emphasis on consumption of millets.
• NITI Aayog has also been advocating the need to introduce millets in the mid-day meal programme, moving away from rice and wheat.
• Moreover, in 2019, NITI Aayog had released a report showing the benefits of millets based on a study among adolescents in four Karnataka schools.

Government steps to increase millets production

• Government of India has already revised the guidelines to facilitate the movement of the surplus production of millets to other states.
• The provision of inter-state transportation of surplus millets through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is incorporated to cater for advance demands placed by consuming states before the start of procurement.
• India is now the 5th largest exporter of millets globally.
• 2023 will be the international year of millets that will create value generation and promotion of sustainable products in food choices.

International Year of Millets (IYOM) FAQs

1. Which Organization approved the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM)?

Ans. The year 2023 was declared as the International Year of Millets (IYOM) by the United Nations (UN).

2. Who proposed the International Year of Millets (IYOM)?

Ans.International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 was adopted by UN on the proposal of India.

3. What is the importance of International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023?

Ans. International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023 will provide an opportunity to increase global production, efficient processing and better use of crop rotation and promote millets as a major component of the food basket.

Millets in Mid Day Meal Scheme

Millets in Mid Day Meal Scheme

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