IYM2023 signifies 'The World is One Family'

Posted by Ft. Arnab Guha 10/12/2022 0 Comment(s) Millet,

The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM).

The IYM 2023 is 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.

It is an occasion to promote the sustainable production of millets while also highlighting their potential to create sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.

Prime Minister Modi's message was conveyed by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje (Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) at the opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 organised by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy, according to an official statement. (06-10-2022).

Highlights:

India will steer the celebration of ‘International Year of Millets 2023’ and organise campaigns to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets (nutri-cereals) PM Modi thanked the global community for supporting India's proposal to mark the International Year of Millets.

Millets are good for the consumer, cultivator and climate.

Millets can be cultivated in semi-arid zones besides consuming less water for irrigation as compared to staples like wheat, rice, soy etc. This makes millets as environment-friendly, climate-resilient and drought-resistant.

Millets provides balanced-nutrition & are gluten-free.

Millets have a glorious history of being among the earliest crops grown by humans. They have been an important food source in the past. But the need of the hour is to make them a food choice for the future.

Nations need to collaborate to develop a sustainable future, and millets will play a pivotal role in the process. IYM2023 will lead India towards food and nutritional security.

Millets are considered 'Smart Food' as they are easy to cultivate, mostly organic and contains high nutritional value.

IYM2023 celebration is an opportunity for India to promote nutri-cereal millets globally and place them in the world's 'food map PM Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023 a 'People's Movement' alongside positioning India as the 'Global Hub for Millets'.

IYM2023 will provide an opportunity to increase global production, efficient processing and better use of crop rotation and promotion of millets as a major component of the food basket: Union Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar

Millets are a good way to increase agricultural and dietary diversity.

There is a need for diversity on the land and on our tables. If agriculture becomes monoculture, it impacts our health and the health of our lands.

Raising awareness to create “Millet Mindfulness” is an important part of this movement.

Both institutions and individuals can make a tremendous impact. While institutional mechanisms can encourage production of millets and make it profitable via policy initiatives, individuals can make health-conscious and planet-friendly choices by making it a part of their diet.

“I am positive that it will start a mass movement towards a secure, sustainable and healthy future.”: Modi

And

With PM Modi’s vision of “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family), the IYM2023 celebration is an opportunity for India to promote Nutri-cereal Millets globally and place them in the world’s ‘food map‘

In one of our IIPLpoll related to Health Perception, we asked the audience on their perception w.r.t. will their doctor recommend low-GI foods or high-GI foods?

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/arnab-guha-gluten-free_iym2023-millets-lowgi-activity-7001984803684200448-q1j9

We received 26 votes but 96% of the voters indicated that doctors will not recommend high-glycemic foods. And one of the best low GI-foods are millet based. It's high time that not only nutritionist and dieticians recommend nutritious non-inflammatory millet foods, but even the medical doctors also wholeheartedly recommend low-Glycemic index foods for betterment of their patients.