On 1st January, The Government of India sponsored the resolution for the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This announcement has been helpful for the Government of India to be at the forefront of celebrating IYM. PM Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to establish India as a ‘Global Hub for Millets’ as well as to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’.
Several evidences for the consumption of millet during the Indus Valley Civilization suggest that it was one of the first crops to be cultivated in India. Millet is currently produced in more than 130 countries. It is considered a traditional food for over 500 million people across Asia and Africa. In India, millets are primarily a kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs than other similar staples. Millets are important by the virtue of its mammoth potential to generate livelihoods, increase farmers’ income and ensure food & nutritional security all over the world.
