Two years ago, at its 75th session in March 2021, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
During the International Year of Millet, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will organize a series of events in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.
Millet is a cereal that can grow on arid soils with minimal inputs and is resilient to climate change. It is therefore presented as an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imported cereals.
According to the United Nations General Assembly, the International Year of Millet will be an opportunity to raise awareness and draw policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millet and its suitability for cultivation in adverse and changing climatic conditions. The year will also promote the sustainable production of millets while emphasizing their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.
The importance of millet for nutrition and agriculture
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) states the rationale for declaring 2023 as the Year of Millet and the importance of millet production as follows:
1- Sustainable millet production can fight hunger and contribute to food security and nutrition.
2- In arid regions, millet is often the only crop that can be harvested during the dry season and is an important part of the household food basket. Millet can help overcome food shortages in difficult times. It therefore also contributes to food security and nutrition for vulnerable people.
Drought resistant
3- Millet can grow on very poor and fertile soils in arid conditions and does not greatly deplete soil nutrients, reduces further land degradation by providing land cover in arid areas and helps support biodiversity and sustainable land restoration.
4- Sustainable millet cultivation can support climate-resilient agriculture. Millet is often referred to as climate resilient crop because it can grow on arid soils with minimal input and maintenance, is resistant and resilient to diseases and pests, and is more resilient to climate shocks than other cereals.
5- Incorporating and/or expanding millet production into national agricultural systems can support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.
Importance for healthy eating
6- Millets can be an important part of a healthy diet. Millet is a good source of minerals, dietary fiber, antioxidants and protein. With its low glycemic index, it is a good option for people with high blood sugar. Millet is also gluten-free and is an excellent and cost-effective source of iron for iron-deficient diets.
7-As whole grains, each variety of millet provides different amounts and types of fiber. Dietary fiber plays a role in regulating gut function, blood sugar and lipids, and satiety.
8- Greater millet consumption can provide opportunities for smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods.
9- As other grains such as wheat maize or rice have become a dietary choice, millet production and demand for them have declined. By promoting millet and regaining market opportunities, additional sources of income can be created for smallholder farmers and the food sector, boosting economic growth.
Food source for millions of people
10- Millet, one of the first domesticated plants, has been an important food staple for 100 millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia for centuries. They are deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of indigenous peoples and are therefore a strategic crop to guarantee food security in culturally relevant areas.
11- Proper processing of millets is key to maintaining their high quality and nutritional benefits.
12- Timely harvesting ensures good grain quality followed by threshing to remove the grains from the stalks. Controlled mechanized processes for dehulling millets at any scale are more efficient than manual hulling, as they reduce losses from spillage and provide clean, intact grains ready for market. Smallholders and supply chain owners accordingly benefit from better incomes and less drudgery.
You can download the communication handbook and toolkit from the link below:
https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc3253en