The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021, declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). It contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is collaborating with partners to unlock the great potential of millets as an affordable food that can contribute to healthy diets and a healthy environment.
Here are six key reasons why millets deserve our attention, a place on our tables and an important business proposition in the board room of food processing companies:
1) An ever-growing global population needs sufficient healthy food amidst climate emergencies and depleting natural resources. Millets can be part of the solution.
2) Millets provide antioxidants, minerals and protein.
3) Millets are resistant to drought and tolerant to crop diseases and pests, allowing them to survive in adverse climatic conditions.
4) As other cereals have become widespread, dietary preferences have shifted, leading to a decline in the production and demand for millet.
5) Currently, millets account for less than three per cent of the global grains trade. When sudden shocks affect the foodgrain market, millets can provide a valuable alternative to typically traded grains. This added diversity can improve the resilience of the global trade markets and mitigate our reliance on other grains.
6) The genetic diversity of millets lends itself to many diverse and innovative applications of millets in areas such as therapeutics and pharmaceuticals. Used innovatively, millets offer even greater regional and international trade market opportunities.
Recently, around 100 Indian millet exhibitors from different parts of the country and around 100 international buyers from countries like the USA, UAE, Kuwait, Germany, Vietnam, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Bhutan, Italy and Malaysia have participated in the Global Millets Conference. It was organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of the Indian Government.
A huge standalone and joint venture opportunity awaits in the Millet sector. The millet sector is encountering many challenges in producing millets, processing, value addition, marketing, and consumption.
At the same time, there are a lot of opportunities for entrepreneurs in the millet sector. The challenges can be mitigated by making extra efforts to solve the problems faced in the value chain of millets. The challenges are not only encountered in India but also throughout the world.
What are the opportunities in this challenge?
Millet farmers feel challenges to increase the yield of millets, including sowing/transplanting on time, weeding on time, proper nutrient management, and using improved varieties. The farmers require cultivars with significant resistance to pests and diseases. The millet farmers need to be incentivised to encourage them to grow millets. There is a need for quality seeds, especially of minor millets. Seed hubs for breeding and producing seeds. The seed production needs to be demand-driven.
Separation of the husk of millets
Millet processors are facing difficulty in handling and disposing of the husk of the millets. Millets are 100% gluten-free; making some products with all total millet ingredients is difficult. The shelf life of millets has to be enhanced to a minimum of 12 months from existing 4-6 months.
The global market is still at a nascent stage in Millet production. However, the world is looking for alternate food to meet food security issues and the nutritional value of the food consumed.
India is the world’s largest producer and second-largest exporter of millets. The millet market is anticipated to be valued at US$ 12.5 billion in 2023 to reach a valuation of US$ 44.1 billion by 2033. The Millet market is expected to record a CAGR of 13.4% over the forecast period. India produces all the nine commonly known millets. Most of the states in India grow one or more millet crop species. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are the major millets producing states.
The Indian government has already taken several steps to promote millet production, such as providing farmers with subsidies, free inputs, and enhanced price procurement. To take advantage of these government schemes and IYM2023, farmers must adopt proper cultivation technology and smart farming techniques to get maximum farm yield. They should also take advantage o f the government’s initiatives to promote investments in millet processing units and integrated farming systems.
IYM2023 promises immense opportunities for farmers , governments and other stakeholders worldwide. If exploited optimally, IYM2023 will be a game changer in millet production and consumption, bringing prosperity and food security to millions across the globe. “The problem of inadequate diets is not only with the poor, but also with the middle and upper classes of society, and therefore massive programmes on food and nutrition awareness is required to bring about behaviour change,” Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), stated recently at a seminar.