✅On India’s initiative, the United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
✅It was adopted by a UN resolution led by India and supported by over 70 countries.
✅It will help spread worldwide awareness about the importance of millet, its role in sustainable agriculture and its benefits as a superfood.
✅ India is poised to become a global hub of coarse cereals
with a production of over 17 million tonnes, accounting for more than 80 per cent of the coarse cereals produced in Asia.
✅Millets are grown in about 131 countries and are still the traditional food of about 600 million people in Asia and Africa.

▪️Global Distribution

✅ India, Nigeria and China are the largest producers of millet in the world, accounting for more than 55% of the global production.
✅For many years, India was a major producer of millet.
✅ India accounts for a fifth of the world’s millet production.
✅However, in recent years, millet production has increased dramatically in Africa.

▪️Aim

✅The IYM 2023 is an opportunity to raise awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions.
✅It is an occasion to promote millet’s sustainable production while highlighting their potential to create sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.
✅International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 aims to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly:
🔸 SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
🔸SDG 3 (Good health and well-being)
🔸SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth)
🔸SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production)
🔸SDG 13 (Climate action)
🔸SDG 15 (Life on land)

✅The sustainable cultivation of millets can support climate-resilient agriculture [ SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) ]
✅The sustainable production of millet can fight hunger and contribute to food security and
nutrition [ SDG 2 (End Hunger) ]
✅Millets can be an important part of a healthy diet [ SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) ]
✅Greater consumption of millets can offer opportunities to smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods [ SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) ]
✅Proper handling of millets is key to maintaining their high quality and nutritional benefits [ SDG 2 (End Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) ]
✅Greater trade in millets can improve the diversity of the global food system [ SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production) ]