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4.6 Proposal for International Year of Millets - India

Presentation · October 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23448.72961

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4.6 Proposal for International Year of Millets

Dr. Suresh K. Malhotra

Agriculture Commissioner
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Government of India, New Delhi-110001, INDIA
(Presented in FAO, 26th Committee on Agriculture meeting held at Rome on 4 October 2018)
 Millets: Crops for the future

Millets are collective group of

small seeded annual grasses
Major
that are grown as grain crops,
millets in dry areas of temperate, sub
tropical and tropical regions.
Pearl millet Great millet / Finger millet
(Pennisetum sorghum (Eleusine
americanum) (Sorghum bicolor) coracana)
Origin:
• Wild African grasses in the
Nile valley and the Sahel
zone.
Small
millets • Subsequently taken to China,
India, Americas and Europe
Little millet Kodo millet
(Panicum (Paspalum
Proso millet Barnyard millet Foxtail
sumatrense) scrobiculatum) (Panicum (Echinochloa millet
miliaceum) frumentacea) (Setaria italica)
Millets : Traditional/ancient
WHY grain of Arid,
HOWSemi-arid ecosystem

1. Millets as Staple food

• Millets were amongst first plants domesticated
• Traditional staple crop for million of farmers in
Sub-Saharan Africa & Asia

International Crop Research Institute Semi Arid Tropics

• More than 90 million people in Africa & Asia
depend on millets for food.
• 500 million people in >30 countries depend on
sorghum as staple food
• Millets including sorghum are grown in 131
countries and are important for food and nutrition. http://www.icrisat.org/senegalese-
women-revive-appetite-for- traditional-
grains/
Millets and Sorghum area and production region wise (2016)
Regions MILLETS SORGHUM Total(Millets & Sorghum)
AREA Production AREA Production AREA Production
(Million ha) (Million ton) (Million ha) (Million ton) (Million ha) (Million ton)
Africa 20.03 13.64 30.54 29.83 50.54 43.47
Americas 0.17 0.29 6.01 23.09 6.18 23.38
Asia 10.88 13.43 7.29 7.96 18.17 21.39
Europe 0.58 0.96 0.40 1.25 0.98 2.21
Australia & 0.04 0.04 0.52 1.80 0.56 1.84
Newzeland
WORLD 31.70 28.36 44.77 63.93 76.47 92.29
(Source: FAO Stat)
• MILLETS: Africa (Western, Eastern, Northern Africa) and Asia (Southern & Eastern Asia) leads in
production (95%) in arid and semiarid agro-ecosystem
• SORGHUM: Africa (Western, Eastern, Northern Africa), Americas (North, Central and South) and Asia
(Southern & Eastern Asia) leads in production (95%) in arid and semiarid, tropical subtropical and
temperate agro-ecosystem
 Major millet and sorghum producing countries in 2016
Others India
Ethiopia 12% USA
36%
4% Others 19%
Burkina 25%
Faso
4%
Sudan China,
5% mainland Nigeria
Nigeria 4% 11%
5%
China
Mali 4% Sudan
6% 10%
Argentina
China, 5%
mainland China Niger India Ethiopia Mexico
7% 7% 14% 7% 7% 8%

MILLET SORGHUM 5
 Major millet exporting and importing countries in 2016
Others Indonesia
15% 8% Germany
7%
Ukraine
France
24%
4% Belgium
7%

Others UAE
46% 5%
USA
16% Iran
4%
India
Pakistan
21%
4%
Russian South Saudi
Federation Africa Korea Italy UK Arabia
20% 3% 4% 4% 4% 4%
EXPORT IMPORT 6
 Major sorghum exporting and importing countries
India Uganda
1% 1%
Ukraine Others
France 1% Others Pakistan
Sudan 7%
1% 2% 1% 1%
Argentina Japan
6% 4%
Mexico
4%
Australia
China
9%
42%

China,
USA
mainland
79%
41%

EXPORT IMPORT 7
 Trends in area, production and yield of sorghum & millet in the world
50.0 1200
Area (m ha) Area (m ha)
Production (m t) 45.0 Production (m t)
Yield (kg/ha) Yield (kg/ha) 1000

Area (million ha)/Production (million t)

Area (million ha)/Production (million t)

40.0
80.0 1600
35.0
70.0 1400 800
30.0

Yield (kg/ha)
60.0 1200
25.0 600
50.0 1000

Yield (kg/ha)
20.0
40.0 800
400
15.0
30.0 600
10.0
20.0 400 200
5.0
10.0 200
0.0 0
0.0 0

SORGHUM MILLET
 WHY HOW
Why International Year of Millets?
2500
2100

1. Millets are highly climate resilient crops 2000

1500 1250

1000
600 500 450
• Climate change is affecting the crop yield and quality of 500 300 400 350 350

many crops. 0

• But millets possess several morpho, physiological &

biological characters- thus are adaptable to dry regions.
• Early maturity (65-85 days); high drought (150- 500 mm
rainfall) and salinity tolerance; high heat tolerance
(>42o C of air temperature)
• Adapted to adverse, marginal & changing environments
• Supports increased resilience to climate change
 Why InternationalWHY
Year of Millets?
2. Millets have high nutritional value
• Targeting some of the biggest nutrition and health needs globally.
• High in Iron, Zinc, Folate
• High in calcium
• Low GI (good for avoiding and managing diabetes)
• High in protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants.
• Gluten free.
Millets fit many of the major global health

Nutrient content (g/100g of edible portion)

35
food trends Nutrient contents of Millets & Cereals
30

25
Pearl millet
Finger millet
20
Foxtail millet
15 Proso millet
Kodo millet
10
Little millet
5 Barnyard millet

0
Rice
Protein Fiber Minerals Iron Calcium Wheat
 Why International Year of Millets?
3. Millets are: Good for the planet (Take less to give more)
• Millets provide a viable option for the marginal farmers &
Sustainable production system
• Grows with minimal fertilizers
and pesticides
• Survive with less water
• Grows faster putting less
stress on the environment.
• Multiple uses as food, feed/
fodder, biofuels, brewing
• Eaten in many forms

Bajra Laddoo Chapati Suhali

Bakli
 Why International
WHYYear of Millets?
HOW
4. Attention is needed that millets is a global priority for achieving food and
nutrition security, particularly in:
• Contributing to Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) 2,3,12,13
• SDG 2 End hunger, achieve food
security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
• SDG 3 Ensure healthy lives and
promote well-being for all at all ages
• SDG 12 Ensuring sustainable
consumption and production patterns
• SDG 13 "Take urgent action to combat
climate change and its impacts
Millets align with some of the big initiatives: EG Adaptation of African Agriculture, AfDB
TAAT (Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation)
 Started: 2018
Objectives :
• Addressing issues concerning production,
demand, and research with market oriented
approach.

• Increasing production of Nutri-Cereals

through productivity enhancement in
identified districts.

• Strengthening seed supply system.

• Enhancing post-harvest value addition at

farm gate for better price realization to
farmers through efficient market linkages. 13
 WHY
Millets could supplement in some of global issues :
• Food and Nutrition (Poor diets
and health).

• Environment issues (climate

change, water scarcity and
environmental degradation).

• Rural poverty.
Backdrop:
Millet cultivation: historically
widespread.
• Current need:
i. To promote the nutritional and
ecological benefit of millets to
consumers, producers, decision
makers.
ii. To improve food sector linkages
for better reward to growers.
iii. To prioritize policies that
advocate for inclusive value
chain development for millets.
International Year for Millets
Objectives proposed:
i. Elevate awareness of the contribution of nutri-
cereals (millets) for food security and nutrition.
ii. Inspire all stakeholders, including national
governments to work towards improving
production, productivity and quality of millets.
iii. Draw focus for enhanced investment in R&D and
extension services to achieve (i) & (ii) above.
 The Committee is invited to:
• Review the proposal by the Government of India to establish
observance of the International Year of Millets in 2026 now 2023
and provide guidance as deemed appropriate.

• Review and amend, as needed the Draft Conference Resolution

presented in Appendix A, and submit it for the consideration of the
160th session of the Council for adoption by the 41st Session of
the Conference.
 International Year of Millets will ensure Recognition
Place For Millets Globally
Millets are no more Orphan Crops

Thanks
Dr. Vilas Tonapi: Proposed work Plan 17 8/7/2021
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