FAO Approves India’s Idea, Declared 2023 As International Year of Millets

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, “The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has approved India's proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023.”

Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, “He made this demand in August this year, which has been accepted by the ongoing FAO Council in Rome.

He further added, “The development will enhance global awareness to bring back these nutri-cereals to the plate, for food and nutrition security and for increasing production to face the challenges posed by climate change, globally.”

The Minister also conveyed his gratitude to the countries who voiced their support to this proposal, an official statement said.

In addition, the FAO has also approved India's membership to the Executive Board of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for 2020 and 2021.

The Minister said that in the Modi regime, India’s prowess in agriculture diplomacy has grown. This international endorsement comes in the backdrop of India celebrating 2018 as the National Year of Millets for promoting cultivation and consumption of these nutri-cereals.

It is also supported by increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of millets. Millets consists of Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and minor millets together termed as nutri-cereals.

The MSP of Jowar has been increased to Rs 2450 per quintal from Rs 1725, Bajra to Rs 1950 from Rs 1425 and Ragi to Rs 2897 from Rs 1900 per quintal from 2018-19. Through the Department of Food and Public Distribution, State Governments are allowed to procure jowar, bajra, maize and ragi from farmers at MSP.