The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The resolution was sponsored by India and supported by over 70 nations.
Key Points
- The resolution titled ‘International Year of Millets 2023’ was initiated by India with Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, Russia, Nigeria, and Senegal and was co-sponsored by over 70 nations.
- The resolution was unanimously adopted by the 193-member General Assembly, declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
- The resolution is aimed at raising awareness about the health benefits of the grain and its suitability for cultivation under changing climatic conditions.
- India’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti pointed out that although millet cultivation has been historically widespread; their production is decreasing in many nations.
- He underlined that the main objective of the resolution is to raise awareness and direct policy action to the nutritional and health benefits of millets consumption.
- The resolution will also increase focus on investments in research and development and extension services related to millets.
- India’s Permanent Mission to the U.N. also distributed savory millet snack murukku to all U.N. Member States.
- The resolution considers that there is an urgent need to raise awareness of the climate-resilient and nutritional benefits of millets and to advocate for diversified, balanced, and healthy diets through the increased sustainable production and consumption of millets.
- The resolution also recognizes the vast genetic diversity of millets and their adaptive capacities to a range of production environments.
It was in April 2016 that the U.N. General Assembly had proclaimed the U.N. Decade of Action on Nutrition from 2016 to 2025, recognizing the need to eradicate hunger and prevent all forms of malnutrition worldwide.
