International Year of Millets 2023: Final Report

Overview: 

The International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aimed to raise global awareness about the nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits of millets. Millets, a group of small-grained cereals, are highly resilient to climate change and play a crucial role in food security, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The IYM sought to promote the sustainable production and consumption of millets, highlighting their potential to diversify diets, improve nutrition, and support smallholder farmers. The report summarizes the activities, achievements, and recommendations from the year-long campaign, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to integrate millets into global food systems.

Key Findings:

• Nutritional benefits: Millets are rich in carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. They are gluten-free and have a low glycemic index, making them suitable for diverse diets.

• Climate Resilience: Millets are highly adaptable to arid and marginal lands, requiring minimal inputs and being resistant to pests and diseases. They contribute to biodiversity and sustainable land use.

• Economic Potential: Millets offer significant opportunities for small-scale farmers and agrifood entrepreneurs, particularly in developing countries. However, their global trade accounts for less than 3% of the grain market, indicating untapped potential.

• Global Awareness: The IYM campaign reached over 138 million users through social media, with more than100 events held in 35 countries. The campaign successfully highlighted millets' role in addressing food security, climate change, and nutritional challenges.

• Challenges: Despite their benefits, millets face challenges such as low yields, post-harvest losses, and limited consumer awareness. Mechanization and improved processing technologies are needed to enhance their marketability.

Recommendations:

1. Genetic Resources: Conserve and promote the genetic diversity of millets by supporting the collection, conservation, and access to genetic resources. Involve family farmers and Indigenous Peoples in the conservation and improvement of millets genetic resources.

2. Sustainable Production and Integrated Cropping Systems: Encourage farmers to diversify their production systems, conserve underutilized millets varieties, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Support smallholder farmers and Indigenous Peoples' communities to improve harvesting and storage of millets.

3. Mechanization and Food Processing Opportunities: Provide financial assistance and resources to millets entrepreneurs, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to support mechanization and food processing. Promote gender-inclusive access to mechanization services and provide training and capacity-building programs.

4. Sustainable Consumption and Healthy Diets: Promote millets consumption as part of a healthy diet through public procurement, nutrition campaigns, and school lunch programs. Encourage researchers to develop databases on the nutritional content of millets and support producer cooperatives and farmers' markets.

5. Research and Development and Knowledge Exchange: Develop open-access knowledge hubs and technical networks to facilitate knowledge exchange on millets research and development. Establish a network of stakeholders to strengthen the millets sector and promote inclusive and sustainable development.