Page 5 - Millets

Can millets be India's own super crop?

Millets are reemerging as nutri-cereals or smart foods, thanks to their therapeutic qualities and nutritional superiority compared to rice, wheat. What will make this a 'wonder crop' of masses?

We have planned to bring millet into diet in G20 meetings: Kiren Rijiju

The Government of India had notified millet as a nutritious- cereal in April 2018 and millet has also been included in the Poshan Mission campaign

The return of the millets

The research and development initiatives on millets received the much-needed impetus after 2018, which was observed as the National Year of Millets

Make popularising millets 'jan andolan': PM Modi tells BJP lawmakers

Good health associated with millets and sports took centre stage in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the BJP parliamentary party meeting here on Tuesday as he asked MPs to promote them and even joined lawmakers for a special millet lunch. Making millets, grown by most small farmers in the country, popular amounts to serving the country, Modi told BJP MPs, according to Union minister Pralhad Joshi who briefed reporters. This should be made a "jan andolan" (people's movement), Joshi said while quoting the prime minister. Prime Minister Modi noted that the UN has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets on his government's request as he called for making the bouquet of grains high on nutrition a popular choice of food for people. With tens of thousands of foreign delegates expected to attend a large number of meetings associated with the G-20, now being chaired by India, Modi said millets will be on the menu. Highlighting the high nutritional value of these grains,

PM Modi asks BJP MPs to work to promote millets, sports during address

Good health associated with millets and sports took centre stage in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the BJP parliamentary party meeting here on Tuesday as he asked MPs to work to promote them. Making millets, grown by most small farmers in the country, popular amounts to serving the country, Modi told BJP MPs, according to Union minister Pralhad Joshi who briefed reporters. The prime minister noted that the UN has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets on his government's request as he called for making the bouquet of grains high on nutrition a popular choice of food for people. With tens of thousands of foreign delegates expected to attend a large number of meetings associated with the G-20, now being chaired by India, Modi said millets will be on the menu and said these can be used in anganwadis, schools, homes and government meetings as well. MPs can use millet items in meetings they host, he added. As over 85 per cent of Indian farmers falling in the cate

EAM Jaishankar hosts UN chief, security council members for millet lunch

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has hosted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Security Council members for a millet lunch, as the world gets ready to usher in the International Year of Millets in 2023. After chairing a signature event in the Security Council held under India's presidency on Global Counterterrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward,' Jaishankar on Thursday hosted the special lunch for the UN leaders. "Delighted to welcome UNSG @antonioguterres and UNSC members for a millet lunch' in New York today. As we head into International Year of Millets 2023, a strong message for their greater production, consumption and promotion would help global food security and enhance sustainability in agriculture, Jaishankar tweeted. Jaishankar said the luncheon with the Secretary-General and Security Council members is themed on the International Year of Millets 2023 which we have been promoting." "So I hope to familiarise Council members more with the virtues of mill

PM congratulates UN for launch of International Year Of Millets 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for the launch of the International Year of Millets 2023

We must look for newer markets for Indian millets: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday called for looking at newer markets for Indian millets to push exports. He also said that there is a need for more research and focus on standards for the sector. "We must look for newer markets and destinations. Research is required to see newer varieties," he said here at an international buyer-seller meet on millets. The minister also called for greater participation of industry besides focusing on boosting productivity of millets. Millets help in reducing carbon emission besides promoting growth of agriculture. "Let's become the global capital of millets," he added. Speaking at the event, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that there is a huge scope to boost millet exports from India. "We can achieve the target of USD 100 billion in 2-3 years from USD 15 million, he said. He said that the ministry will be organising several such buyer-seller meets in India and abroad to promote millets. "I am sure the culture of gro

Indian missions to be roped in for branding, promotion of domestic millets

Indian missions abroad would be roped in for branding, promotion and identification of global potential buyers such as departmental stores for domestic millets, the commerce ministry said on Sunday. This exercise is part of the government's robust strategy to promote Indian millets. The ministry is also organising a 'Millets Smart Nutritive Conclave' on Monday wherein stakeholders of the supply chain such as Farmer Producer Organisations, startups, exporters, producers of millet-based value-added products are participating, it said in a statement. "Indian missions abroad would be roped in for branding and publicity of Indian millets, identification of international chefs as well as potential buyers such as departmental stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets for organizing B2B (business to business) meetings and direct tie-ups," it added. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the conclave here on Monday with a view to promoting exports of the grain. The concla

Govt ropes in Indian missions, Carrefour, Walmart to promote millet exports

The government has formulated a strategy which includes involvement of Indian missions abroad as well as global retail supermarkets Carrefour and Walmart to promote exports of millets. As part of the strategy, Indian missions abroad would be roped in for branding and publicity of domestic millets. The missions would also be asked to identify potential buyers such as departmental stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets for organising business-to-business (B2B) meetings and direct tie-ups for Indian millets. As per the promotion strategy, major international retail supermarkets like Lulu group, Carrefour, Al Jazira, Al Maya, Walmart, would also be roped in to establish millet corner for branding and promotion of millets, an official statement said. "As per the government's robust strategy to promote millets, Indian missions abroad would be roped in branding and publicity of Indian millets, identification of international chefs as well as potential buyers such as departmental stores, .

UP eyes bigger pie of millet exports, plans to expand jowar acreage

Some of the major millet crops grown in UP are jowar, bajra, kodo and sanwa

Food Min pushes for wide use of millet products in canteen, office meetings

The Food Ministry on Monday said it has decided to promote millet products like ragi biscuits and cookies in its canteen and all meetings. A directive in this regard has been issued recently in order to promote the consumption of healthy products ahead of the International Year of Millets to be celebrated in 2023. Millets products such as ragi biscuits, cookies, ladoos, baked millet chips etc. as snacks to be served in the meetings. Dosa, idli and vada with millet as the main raw material to be used in the canteens and as far as possible locally available millet-based products should be used, the ministry said in a statement. Ahead of 2023 international year of millets, the Food Ministry has been actively promoting procurement, and consumption of millets in the country and utilization of procured millets for distribution in welfare schemes. Millets consumption confers several benefits and helps in managing lifestyle diseases. Due to their high density of nutrients including vitami

Eating millets can boost growth in children by 26-39%, says study

The children studied consumed millets over 3 months to 4.5 years

APEDA signs MoU with ICAR-IIMR to boost millet exports

APEDA on Friday inked an MoU with ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research for increasing exports through quality production and processing

Best of BS Opinion: Climate-resilient grains, bank privatisation, and more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

Climate-resilient grains

UN resolution will help boost awareness about millets

First Food: New cultures

Good Food is First Food - not junk food - instead it is the food that connects nature and nutrition with livelihoods

FAO okays India's proposal to observe 2023 as International Year of Millets

This international endorsement comes against the backdrop of India celebrating 2018 as the National Year of Millets for promoting cultivation and consumption of these nutri-cereals