DA&FW and NAFED Signed MoU to Boost International Year of Millets-2023

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently in New Delhi between the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to promote millets in preparation for the International Year of Millets in 2023.

Both organisations will collaborate to promote and market millet-based products in light of the "International Year of Millets (IYOM)-2023" initiative proposed by the Government of India to the United Nations, which will be celebrated globally.

As India prepares to reintroduce millet to the global market, they will build support and organise, promote, market, and forge effective market linkages for millet-based products in order to maximise value capture and millet-based commodities across the country.

DA&FW and NAFED will collaborate in key areas such as providing advisory support to millet-based product manufacturers/processors to develop value-added millet-based commodities; on-boarding of start-ups, including start-ups empanelled with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR); formation of FPOs specifically for developing a range of millet-based products; promote and market millet-based products through the network of NAFED Bazaar Stores and other institutions linked with NAFED as well as installation of Millet based Vending Machines at various locations across Delhi-NCR; and dispensing millet-based products that shall assist in establishing the focus on millet-based commodities.

On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India proposed to the United Nations that 2023 be designated as the International Year of Millets (IYoM). Based on India's proposal, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYOM) in March 2021.

Millets have a low glycemic index and are high in protein, fibre, minerals, iron, and calcium. India is a major millet producer, accounting for 80% of Asian output and 20% of global output.