Thread by @Insights_ias

2023:“International Year of Millets”by the @UN

India:A Global Hub for Millets: ‘Shree Anna’(Mother of all Grains)

“India’s at the forefront of popularizing Millets,whose consumption furthers NUTRITION, FOOD SECURITY & WELFARE of FARMERS”PM Modi

🧵 on #Millets:

#UPSC #IYM2023

•India:largest producer & 2nd largest exporter of ‘Shree Anna’ in the world

•We grow several types: jowar,ragi,bajra,kuttu, ramdana,kangni,kutki,kodo, cheena & sama

•Among the 1st crops to be domesticated:evidence for consumption in Indus-Sarasvati civilisation:3300-1300 BCE

ECO-FRIENDLY:

•Require much less water than rice & wheat

•can be grown in rainfed areas without additional irrigation. 

•A 2019 study: “wheat & rice have the lowest green water footprints but the highest blue water footprints,while millets were exactly opposite.”⬇️

•Green water footprint: refers to water from precipitation

•Blue water footprint:refers to water from land sources.

NUTRITIOUS:

•In 2018,the @AgriGoI (Min of Agri) declared certain varieties of millets as “NUTRI CEREALS” for the purposes of production, consumption & trade⬇️

HEALTH-BENEFITS:

•Millets are also known as a "POWERHOUSE" of NUTRITION/SUPER FOOD

•They help fight problems of malnutrition,obesity.

•Healthier,more Accessible, & Inexpensive

•Rich source of protein,essential fatty acids, dietary fibre, & vitamin B.

INDIA-A GLOBAL HUB for 'Shree Anna':

•The Indian Institute of Millet Research,Hyderabad @MilletsNews will be supported as the Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research & technologies at the international level.

JAN ANDOLAN

•Public participation:people are adopting millets on a large scale-making it a part of their diet.

•Benefits 85% of SMALL FARMERS:who traditionally produce millets

•Making millets,grown by most small farmers in the country, popular,amounts to SERVING the country

MILLETPRENEURS & WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

1.Milletpreneurs of Odisha:A SHG of 1500 women of the tribal district Sundergarh is associated with the Odisha Millets Mission.

•Women are making everything from millets:cookies,rasgulla, gulab jamun & cakes

•An increase in income of women

2. The Aland Bhootai Millets FPO works under the supervision of the Indian Institute of Millets Research in Kalaburgi,Karnataka.

3. Hulsoor Millet Producer Company(Bidar,Karnataka): women are cultivating millets & preparing their flour. Their earnings have increased a lot.

4. BEEJ BANK by Lahari Bai:

•A 27-year-old Baiga(PVTG) tribal woman from Madhya Pradesh's Dindori, has emerged as a grassroots brand ambassador for Millets with her 'Beej Bank'.

•She collects & conserves 30+ rare millet seed varieties & promotes their farming.
#IYM2023

FPOs:

•Farmers from 12 states have joined the FPO of Chhattisgarh’s Sandeep Sharma, who is associated with natural farming.

•This FPO of Bilaspur is making 8 types of millets flour & their dishes.

#IYM2023

At #G20 @g20org

•Summit events are going on in every corner of #India & nutritious & tasty dishes made from millets are included in it.

•Health drinks,cereals & noodles made from millets were showcased in the Millets Exhibitions at all G20 venues.

The @IYM2023 provides an excellent chance to:

1.Enhance the role of #millets in ensuring food security

2.Boost global millet production

3.Streamline the millet supply chain

4.Promote sustainable & high-quality production through stakeholder engagement.

#IYM2023