About MILLETS:  

The United Nations General Assembly recently adopted a resolution declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets, as proposed by India to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). India is the largest global producer of millets, with a 41% market share. A compound annual growth rate of 4.5% is projected for the global millet market in the coming decade.

How significant are millets?

Provide food, nutrition, fodder and livelihood security. Help mitigate the effects of climate change with low carbon footprint of 3,218-Kg equivalent of CO2 per hectare. [Wheat - 3,968 kg; Rice - 3,401kg

Favourable Factors

• Drought resistant
• Suitable for harsh, hot and dry environments.
• Can grow in arid regions, requiring only 350-400 mm of annual rainfall.
• Some varieties of pearl millet survive at temperatures up to 46°C.
• Require minimal inputs for growth.
• Being hardy crops, they can withstand extreme temperatures,
• Floods and droughts.

Objectives

• To cultivate millets for nutritional security and to develop novel food products using millets.
• Providing nutritious foods to the most vulnerable, and strengthening the food distribution system so that food and nutrition insecurity can be eliminated.
• Promoting collaboration across nutrition-relevant, millet-based sectors through institutional, policy, and incentive changes
• To meet the needs of our country, the regulatory framework should be strengthened.
• Agricultural research investments should be aligned with nutritional improvements by conducting research on millet's shelf-life after harvest and after post-harvest.
• Reducing seasonality and postharvest losses by improving the infrastructure for processing, storing, and preserving food.
• Develop a viable millet production value chain to promote millet marketability and awareness.