Jyoti Sharma
February 2, 2023
The United Nations has announced 2023 as the International Year of Millets, recognising the significance of these crops in addressing global food security and malnutrition. Millets are a group of small-seeded cereal crops that are drought-resistant, highly adaptable to varying environmental conditions, and provide essential nutrients to communities worldwide.
Millets have been cultivated for thousands of years in arid and semi-arid regions, including Africa, Asia, and South America. Yet, despite their long history and numerous benefits, millets have often been overlooked in favour of more widely known cereal crops like rice and wheat. The International Year of Millets aims to change this by drawing attention to the importance of these crops and encouraging their more comprehensive cultivation and consumption.
One of the key goals of the International Year of Millets is to increase public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of these crops. Millets are high in fibre, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals, making them an important source of nutrition for people across the globe, especially in developing countries where food security is a significant concern. Additionally, millets are much more sustainable than other crops, requiring fewer inputs like water, fertilisers, and pesticides and producing fewer carbon emissions.
The International Year of Millets also aims to promote the broader cultivation of these crops, as well as research and development efforts to improve their yield and nutritional value. This includes efforts to develop more efficient and effective farming techniques and make millets more accessible and affordable to consumers.
In conclusion, the International Year of Millets is a crucial opportunity to raise awareness of these crops’ significant role in addressing global food security and malnutrition. By working together, governments, organisations, and individuals worldwide can help ensure that millets receive the recognition they deserve and play an increasingly important role in the global food system.
agribazaar has also registered its participation in this initiative through digital technology by connecting with the initiative started by the government to effectively take these millet benefits to the people. So far, more than 4,81,000 MT of millets have been traded through agribazaar e-Mandi. agribazaar, an online commodity marketplace authorised and recognised by the Central and State Governments, has done business with over 50,000 crores GMV since its inception in 2016.
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