-PM Narendra Modi

Context:

The United
Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared
the International Year of Millets 2023 on the initiative of India,
which presided over a powerful group like the G-20.

• The
  International Year of Millets (2023) will spark a mass movement for a more
  secure, sustainable, and healthy future.

 

Key
Points of International Year of Millets 2023:

• India
  proposed it with support of the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture
  Organization (FAO) for the launch of the International Year of Millets
  2023.
• This
  proposal has also supported by 72 UN member countries.
• 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.
• It will
  draw attention and encourage investment in research and development.
• Many
  countries around the work for millets to benefit farmers and consumers
  globally at the market.
• It will
  also promote the sustainable production of millets, while highlighting their
  potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and
  consumers.
• Coarse
  grains are good for the consumer, the farmer and the climate.

Global Distribution of Millets:

• India,
  Nigeria and China are the largest producers of millets in the world,
  distributing for more than 55% of the global production.

Millets Area and Production Region-wise (2019)
Area	Area (Lakh Hectares)	Production (Lakh Tonnes)
Africa	489	423
America	53	192
Asia	162	215
Europe	8	20
Australia and New Zealand	6	12
India	138	173
World	718	863

 

• India is
  the largest producer and fifth largest exporter of millets in the world.
• India
  accounting for approximately 20% of global production.

 

In
Context of India for International Year of Millets 2023:

• The
  Government of India has launched an initiative to promote millets, or
  nutritious cereals, both in India and abroad.
• the Centre
  plans to facilitate the participation of exporters, farmers and traders in 16
  international trade expos and buyer-seller meets.
• India’s
  Missions abroad will be taken in branding and promotion of Indian coarse
  cereals.
• The
  government has started preparing a five-year strategic plan to promote
  millets and their value-added products in the international market.
• APEDA has also signed an MoU with IIMR
  for value addition and enhancing farmers’ income.
• APEDA
  launched a variety of coarse grain products for all age groups at affordable
  prices ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 15 during Aahar Food Fair, Asia’s largest B2B
  international food and hospitality fair.

 

Seven
Strong ‘Sutras’ Of International Year of Millets:

1. Increase
   in production/productivity.
2. Nutrition
   & Health Benefits.
3. Processing,
   Culinary Development.
4. Entrepreneurship/Startup/Group
   Development.
5. Branding,
   Publicity, Spreading Awareness.
6. International
   Reach.
7. Policy
   Steps for Mainstreaming.

 

Millets
in India:

• The major
  millets grown in India are bajra (60%), jowar (27%), ragi (11%) and small
  bajra (2%) (As per 4th Advance Estimates 2021-22).
• India
  recorded a 27 percent increase in the production of coarse cereals in
  2021-22.
• Rajasthan,
  Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil
  Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the major producers of coarse cereals in
  India.
• 16
  major types of
  coarse cereals are produced and exported. These include Jowar, Bajra, Ragi,
  Kangni, Cheena, Kodo, Sava/Sawa/Jhangora, Kutki, Kuttu, Chaulai and Brown Top
  Millet.
• Under National
  Mission on Food Security (NFMS) program NFMS-POSHAK is being implemented in
  212 districts of 14 states.
• In order
  to increase nutrition among children, the Central Government has requested the
  State Governments to explore the possibility of introducing coarse cereals
  under the PM Poshan Yojana, with priority given to those districts where
  coarse cereals are included in the diet as a culturally accepted habit.
• India’s
  goal is not only to export millets, but also to reach out to the people and
  care for their health.
• In 2018,
  the National Year of Millet was observed in order to generate domestic and
  global demand and provide people with nutritious food.

WHAT IS COARSE GRAIN?   Coarse grains generally come under the category of small grain crops. They are also often called nutritious grains or low water grains. These include jowar, bajra, ragi, kutki, kakun, cheena, sava, kodo and other millets. Millet grows in dry land. It grows in areas with less water. Coarse cereals in India are mainly grown in states with low to moderate rainfall (200–800 mm). Millets form part of the regular diet for small and dryland farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Rich nutrients are available in it and these crops are the main source of livelihood for the farmers. Millets are used for food, fodder, biofuel and alcohol. That’s why millets are called smart foods because they are better for consumers, better for farmers and better for the planet.

 

Benefits
of Millets:

Health:

• Helps in
  keeping the heart healthy. Suitable food for people suffering from
  diabetes. Prevents uncontrolled increase of sugar in the blood.
• They’re
  also gluten-free and have a low glycemic index, so they’re a great
  option for people with celiac disease or diabetes.
• Iron is
  found in abundance, so it is effective in increasing blood in the body.
• Helpful in
  strengthening the nervous system.
• Controls
  depression and low blood pressure. It also prevents substances that harm the
  body.
• Foxtail
  millet– Contains
  sufficient amount of calcium, strengthens bones and also helps in prevention of
  osteoporosis disease.
• Helpful in
  bone development and removing anaemia in the body.
• Rich in Vitamin
  E, protects body tissues from injury.
• Protects
  body cells from damage. Reduces the risk of colon cancer and heart disease.

Economy:

• They are
  food for millions of resources -constrained farmers and also fodder for
  their domesticated animals.
• The millet
  is also known as “coarse grain” or “poor grain.”
• 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.

Environment:

• Millet is
  a climate-resilient crop.
• It can be
  grown with little water.
• Millet
  crop contribute low carbon emissions.
•  It can be grown in drought conditions.

 

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 and the Vedas also make mention of coarse
grains. Millets have long been a part of Indian agriculture, culture, and
civilization. Millet can be found in food and drink in every part of the
country. When India declares the International Year of Millets, it becomes the
responsibility of the entire country to make it a mass movement. India
will emerge as the world’s largest exporter, which will be nothing short of a gift
to humanity.

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination Prelims Previous Year Question (PYQ)   Q. With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016) 1.       This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach. 2.       Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme. 3.       An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro irrigation equipment. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer (c)

 

Source:
PIB