What are millets?
Millets are cereal crops traditionally grown in Asia and Africa. These ancient grains are not only nutritionally rich superfoods, but also eco-friendly champions as they require minimal water, fertilizers or pesticides to grow, making them ideal for supporting food security, in India and across the world.
The International Year of Millets
The year 2023 was declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations, following a proposal by India, to support global food security and alleviate food poverty.
Types of Indian MilletsMinistry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
In today’s world, as healthier lifestyle choices and food preferences dictate consumption patterns, gluten-free diets and veganism have emerged as global key trends that are here to stay.
In this scenario, a good plant protein and nutrient-rich food group is essential and millets can fill that vacuum.
The millet solution to food security
The term food security means ready availability, easy accessibility without any discrimination, and affordability, to buy sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.
Three ways in which millets support food security:
1. Power-packed nutrition
Millets are a good source of protein, fiber, key vitamins, and minerals. They have been found to be beneficial for cardiovascular health, preventing the onset of diabetes, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, and managing gut inflammation.
2. A low-cost, high-yield alternative
Millets are drought-resistant, require less water, and can grow in poor soil conditions. This makes them a suitable and dependable food crop for areas with unpredictable weather patterns and water scarcity.
3. A sustainable, eco-friendly solution
With a minimal need for water, millets are also insect tolerant and have a negligible need, if at all, for pesticides and fertilizers. This makes them extremely planet friendly.
Poshan Abhiyan
The Indian Government has launched multiple initiatives to promote millets as a means of tackling the challenge of nutritional security.
Taking into account the immense nutritional value of millets, the Government notified millets as nutri-cereals in April 2018, and included them under the Poshan Abhiyan (nutrition mission campaign)– a program that aims to improve the nutritional status of children from 0-6 years, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers by bridging dietary gaps with a focus on millets.
Public Distribution System
The Government has also included millets in the Public Distribution System to make it accessible and affordable to the masses. To ensure a steady supply chain, the Government’s Price Support Scheme (PSS) provides financial assistance to farmers for millet cultivation.
It also encourages production of value added millet-based products to increase the demand and consumption of these nutrient-packed millets by providing both technical and business know-how as well as financial assistance to startups.
India’s commitment to millets’ endless possibilities as a viable solution for supporting food security is further illustrated by its recent initiatives towards Shree Anna.
The Government aims to increase the area and production of millets in the country to make India a global hub for millets.
Text and images courtesy Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India
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