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Importance of this initiative

• The significance of this initiative lies in its ability to draw global attention to a particular issue through international observances, whether it's a day, week, year, or even a decade. Typically, a member nation presents a proposal to the United Nations (UN) through a relevant agency, such as India's proposal to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) regarding millets. India's proposal underwent internal approvals before being presented at the UN General Assembly, where it received approval with the support of 71 countries.
• While this initiative has a global scope within the UN, it falls under the purview of food and agriculture, making the FAO the coordinating agency. The FAO collaborates with technical experts from various UN member countries, representatives from all regions, and stakeholders including academia, the private sector, and civil society. The International Year of Millets 2023 (IYM2023) serves to consolidate efforts and promote global cooperation in advancing millet-related initiatives.

Importance of millets cultivation from a farm diversification perspective

• Millet cultivation holds significant importance for farmers seeking to achieve three key objectives in farming: profitability, adaptability, and sustainability. Millet-based farming systems offer several advantages, including:
• High tolerance to extreme temperatures, droughts, and floods, making them suitable for cultivation in arid, rain-fed areas with marginal soil fertility and moisture, such as the sand dunes of Rajasthan.
• Low water requirements compared to other crops, thanks to an efficient root system. For instance, pearl and finger millet can thrive with only 28% of the rainfall needed for paddy cultivation.
• Short growth cycles (around 65 days) are essential for meeting food demands, particularly in densely populated regions.
• Millets have a comparatively longer storage life (two years or more).
• Minimal investment is needed for millet farming.
• The majority of inputs required for millet cultivation are organic.
• Millets produce more tillers or branches than many other crops, providing both food and fodder.

Nutritional and food security benefits:

• The consumption of millets offers numerous nutritional benefits and contributes to food security:
• Millets are rich sources of essential nutrients, surpassing rice and wheat in terms of calcium, iron, beta-carotene, and other nutrients.
• They are high in dietary fiber, which is lacking in rice, with millets like jowar containing eight times more fiber, ragi having 40 times more calcium, and bajra possessing eight times more iron and five times more riboflavin and folic acid than rice.
• Millets aid in managing diabetes, improving the digestive system, reducing cancer risk, and bolstering the immune system.
• Millet diets, being gluten-free and having a low glycemic index, are suitable for individuals with celiac disease and diabetes.
• Millets are rich in lecithin, which is beneficial for strengthening the nervous system.
• They contain higher amounts of minerals and fibers compared to other grains.

Way forward

• To ensure the sustainable growth of millets and maximize their benefits:
• Efforts should be made to prevent millets from following a monoculture path in government extension programs, preserving their traditional place within multi-cropping farming approaches.
• Governments should provide incentives to encourage millet cultivation among farmers.
• Greater emphasis should be placed on value addition to millets to increase demand among urban consumers.
• Government bodies and civil society organizations (CSOs) should collaborate to raise awareness about the nutritional and carbon sequestration benefits offered by millets.
• Mechanization of millet farming should be prioritized to reduce the labor-intensive traditional processing methods.

Conclusion

• The value of millets is evident in their alignment with sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to food security, nutrition, and poverty eradication. 
• Unlocking the potential of millets depends on supportive policies that promote production, incentivize farmers, and strengthen market connections.