The year 2023 will go down in Indian history as a glorious year. The United Nations has declared this year the International Year of Millets on the initiative of India, which presided over a powerful group like the G-20. Recognizing the importance of coarse cereals and taking the lead in providing nutritious food to the people while also creating indigenous and global demand, India is establishing itself as a world leader during this special year…
Come, let us explore the importance of coarse cereals for the people and how the International Year of Millets (2023) will spark a mass movement for a more secure, sustainable, and healthy future.
On December 20, about a month and a half ago, a one-of-a-kind lunch was hosted in the Parliament. The country's Vice President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, former Prime Ministers, leaders of both Houses of Parliament, presidents of various political parties, MPs, and officials were all present. It was more than a political gathering or a series of food-related gatherings; it aimed to improve people's nutrition and health. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision is based on the belief that India's ancient nutritious grain should reclaim its rightful place on the food plate. Top-level policymakers themselves took part in this symbolic initiative. This event is also significant because the world is celebrating this year, 2023, as the International Year of Millets , which has been initiated by India.
Millets are a valuable natural gift to humanity, so declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets is nothing short of a gift to the entire humanity. Millets have long been used in Indian cuisine, but the Green Revolution of the 1960s, which promoted food security, reduced the importance of millets. Gradually, the attention to it waned to the point where it not only vanished from the plate, but production also declined due to lack of consumption.
Millets accounted for approximately 40% of all crop cereals prior to the Green Revolution but fell to approximately 20% in the years that followed. Commercial crops such as pulses, oilseeds, and maize encroached on previously cultivated land. Commercial crops are profitable, and their production is aided by a variety of policies, including subsidies, government procurement, and inclusion in the public distribution system. Despite this, with the change in eating habits, calorie-rich fine cereals began to take precedence on the plate. Millets are not new to the country.
Previously, there was such a structure in the rural environment amidst fewer facilities that even small farmers used to produce cereals according to their needs. Food cereals that were left over after meeting the needs of the family were sold at the market. Agriculture gradually became more competitive in terms of profit. Farmers' reliance on wheat and paddy increased as agriculture became a source of income. Indian farmers have produced enough food to feed the country while also supplying the rest of the world. Now that the country leads in food grain and horticulture production, it is critical to focus on nutritious cereals. Today, there is a need for nutrition, and research is being conducted in depth and thoroughly. Scholars are brainstorming, lectures are being held in various locations, and millets are said to be necessary for good health. In this regard, Prime Minister Modi has stated that we should work for millets, and millets, like yoga, are being promoted on his initiative in the country and around the world. Consumption and production of millets are increasing in response to the Prime Minister's call.
In this context, the Indian government recognised the importance of millets in achieving nutritional security in the country and made several efforts in this direction. It included the recognition of millets as nutritious cereals, the National Year of Millets in 2018 and the proposal at the United Nations General Assembly to celebrate International Year of Millets, as well as a variety of other small-scale policies.
The COVID pandemic and importance of food
The COVID pandemic has made everyone realise how important health and nutritional security are. Covid, Conflict, and Climate are the three Cs. Each of these has had an impact on food security in some way. It is critical to include nutrition in food items in such a situation. Celebrating the International Year of Millets will increase domestic and global consumption of millets, as well as employment and economic strength. Whatever has been given by Indian tradition, culture, practise, natural products, and nature is unquestionably perfect for keeping any human being healthy. But time passes and in the name of modernity, due to busy lifestyle, many times we forget the good things slowly and in the name of progress we adopt many other things in our lives.
Progress is necessary, but progress that is in harmony with nature is better for human life and the country. Today, we find many things and pay high prices for them; among them are many things whose seeds are not kept by anyone, and farmers do not even sow them, but they are still produced naturally and seasonally. People who know about their quality, use them. God has also taken care of the balance. It is worth noting that COVID was not the first pandemic, nor will it be the last. If more epidemics occur, they may be more deadly. As a result, the International Year of Millets becomes even more important in preparing for pandemic food security implications. Prime Minister Narendra Modi says millet was one of the first crops grown by humans. As an important source of nutrients, it is critical to emphasise millets as a future food option.
Call it nutritious grain, not coarse grain…
Millets are widely regarded as an ancient grain. It has a longer history than the more modern cereals we consume. Millets were discovered in the Indus Valley Civilization, according to some artefacts recovered from the Indus Valley Civilization, and India is the world's largest producer. India produces approximately 1.80 crore metric tonnes of millets, accounting for approximately 20% of global production. Around 130 of the world's 200 countries produce nutritious cereals in some form or another. And India produces nine different types of nutritious cereals. There are also nutritional security solutions in food processing. Coarse cereals and millets, for example, have high nutritional values. They are also resistant to challenging agro-climatic conditions.
They are also referred to as "nutrition-rich and climate-resilient" crops. Coarse cereals are more nutritious than fine cereals. They are much better for our health than the cereals we currently consume. Besides, the farmers who grow it are small and work in unirrigated areas. It is also known as "organic farming" because the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is minimal. What was once thought to be coarse grain is now changing. It is now acknowledged as a superfood. The emphasis is on increasing demand so that farmers can get better prices.
Millets are a type of alternative food that can help meet the increasing demand for vegetarian foods. Millets contribute to both a healthy diet and a safe environment. It is God's natural gift to humanity. Indian millets are a group of nutrient-dense, drought-tolerant crops that are primarily grown in India's arid and semi-arid regions. It is a small-seeded grass in the Poaceae botanical family. They are food for million of resource -constrained farmers and also fodder for their domesticated animals. It has a significant impact on the ecological and economic security of India. This millet is also known as "coarse grain" or "poor grain." Indian millets are high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. They're also gluten-free and have a low glycemic index, so they're a great option for people with celiac disease or diabetes.
The pandemic has highlighted the need to supplement the income of small and marginal farmers, and millets can be one of the best options for doing so. Millet is a climate-resilient crop that can be grown with little water, low carbon emissions, and even in drought conditions. The International Year of Millets will raise awareness of millets' contribution to food security and nutrition, as well as motivate stakeholders to maintain and improve millet production. At the same time, it will draw attention and encourage investment in research and development.
India becoming a pioneer in millets
The Government of India has launched an initiative to promote millets, or nutritious cereals, both in India and abroad. Its flavour is its specialty. India's goal is not only to export millets, but also to reach out to the people and care for their health. India came up with the idea at a time when the world is dealing with an epidemic like Covid. The Indian government is planning to spread it around the world. The government is making an effort to better serve nutritious food cereals from India at all events hosted by all agencies and embassies. Its specialty should be communicated to the public; this process will continue throughout the year. India, which is chairing the G-20, will also serve at least one millet-based dish at all of its events. During the initial meeting, many millets dishes were kept on the main course menu in front of the guests. Globally, there is a growing preference for coarse cereals. When a foreign guest or a head of state has visited India in the past, Prime Minister Modi has tried to offer dishes made from our coarse cereals. These dishes are also popular among visitors from other countries.
These initiatives by the government will help raise global awareness about the importance of millets in sustainable agriculture as well as their benefits as a smart food and a superfood. With a production of over 1.80 crore metric tonnes, India is poised to become the global hub for millets. More than 80% of the millets produced in Asia are produced in India. The first evidence of these grains was discovered by the Indus Civilization. It was among the first plants to be used as a food source. It is grown in approximately 131 countries and is a traditional food for approximately 600 million Asian and African people. The International Year of Millets is being observed at the initiative of the Government of India in order to create a mass movement to ensure that Indian millets, delicacies, and value-added products are accepted globally. This year represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to promote better food system connectivity in order to increase global production, ensure efficient processing and consumption, encourage better crop rotation, and promote millets as a key component of food commodities.
Boost with a long-term strategy
The government is organising a number of programmes both in the country and abroad to increase the popularity of millets and other nutritious cereals. Further, all Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), will promote nutritional cereals. The International Year of Millets action plan focuses on strategies to increase production, consumption, exports, branding, and so on. To promote millets, the central government has also launched the PLI scheme. On March 31, the government approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing industry with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore as part of the Prime Minister's Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan announcement. The scheme will be implemented over a seven-year period, from 2021-22 to 2026-27.
The primary goals of the scheme include developing global food manufacturing champions and promoting Indian food brands in international markets. The scheme has identified specific food products with high growth potential for assistance. These include millet-based products that are "ready to cook" or "ready to eat" (RTC or RTE). To monitor the programmes and policies for the popularisation of nutrigrains, a Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and a Core Committee chaired by the Secretary, DA&FW, and Secretary DARE have been constituted.
The government has taken several steps to promote millet. In 2018, the National Year of Millet was observed in order to generate domestic and global demand and provide people with nutritious food. Because of millet's nutritional value, the government designated it as a cereal in April 2018, and it was included in the Poshan Mission campaign. While there are over 500 startups active across the market value chain, the Indian Institute of Millets Research has taken onboard 250 of them through RKVY-Raftaar. Over 66 startups have received funding totaling more than Rs 6.2 crore, with another 25 approved for future funding.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has developed a comprehensive strategy to promote Indian coarse cereal exports to the world beginning in December 2022 through its agricultural export promotion body, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The Central Government is organising the International Year of Millets on a domestic and international scale in order to popularise millets and their products around the world and turn them into a people's movement.
During the International Year of Millets , millet production, consumption, and demand will all rise. India will emerge as the world's largest exporter, which will be nothing short of a gift to humanity. Millets have long been a part of Indian agriculture, culture, and civilization. The Vedas also make mention of coarse grains. Millet can be found in food and drink in every part of the country. Millets, like cultures, have a wide range of varieties. When India declares the International Year of Millets , it becomes the responsibility of the entire country to make it a mass movement.
