The United Nations has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets . The main millet producer is produced by India, Niger, Sudan, and Nigeria .
New Delhi, November 24: The United Nations has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM), and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Thursday that millets are vital to food security as well as international relations.COVID, he said, was a time when the world was reminded of what a pandemic can do to improve food security.Climate change, he said, would reduce manufacturing and reduce trade.Tomar said that in international relations, much more emphasis should be given to food security.Tomar said that the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare is working in mission mode to improve millet production and consumption in collaboration with other central ministries, state governments, and other stakeholder groups.Tomar said that the time has come for the public distribution system to shift the focus of distribution activities from basic calories to more diverse food basket that includes millets in order to improve the nutritional status of pre-school children and women of reproductive age In 212 districts of 14 States, a nutritious cereal supplement for millets is being developed under the National Food Security Strategy (NFMS).
The minister of agriculture also assists in supporting resilient production, increasing consumer awareness, strengthening supply chains, and research-development activities.More than 66 startups have been granted more than Rs 6.25 crore, according to the Union agriculture minister.According to Tomar, the government is providing support to start-up entrepreneurs for recipes and value-added products to boost millet consumption, while the Indian Institute of Millets Research has incubated 250 startups under the name Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-Raftar).In his address, agriculture and farmers welfare secretary Manoj Ahuja said the alliance would focus on mainstreaming millets and support India in taking the lead in knowledge transfer by leveraging the opportunities provided by the International Year of Millets, adding that millet might be one of the best options for doing so. According to the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, the International Year of Millets will raise awareness of the importance of millets for food security and nutrition, motivate participants to continue producing and enhancing millets' quality, and draw attention to the need for increased investment in research and development activities.The main millet producer is produced by India, Niger, Sudan, and Nigeria.The event was attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi, Secretary of Economic Relations Dammu Ravi, Secretary of External Affairs Secretary (West), and about 100 High Commissioners.