The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.
Millets can grow on arid lands with minimal inputs and are resilient to changes in climate. They are therefore an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains. #IYM2023 will be an opportunity to raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions. The year will also promote the sustainable production of millets, while highlighting their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) too has been promoting the incorporation of millets as part of a healthy and diverse diet among citizens through its various initiatives.
As one such initiative, FSSAI-West Region office in association with International Training Centre for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition (ITCFSAN) designed a Calendar for 2023 with the theme of International Year of Millets. It is a unique design which includes detailed nutritive value of various millets with their areas of cultivations in India.
