At its 75th session in March 2021, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2023 the International Year of Millet (IHL 2023). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the lead agency overseeing this year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders. Drought resistance, minimal need for input resources and immunity to climate change are the main characteristics of millet. That is why the cultivation of this crop is an excellent way to increase the self–sufficiency of the country and reduce its dependence on imported grains.
The goal of #MHP2023 is to raise awareness about the valuable nutritional properties of millet, its health benefits and the possibility of growing this unpretentious crop in unfavorable and changeable climatic conditions, as well as to attract the attention of policy makers to these issues. The celebration of the IHL will also highlight the importance of sustainable millet production methods, as well as the potential of this crop in terms of creating new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.
The holding of the International Millet Year 2023 will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The opening ceremony of the International Year of Millet will take place at the FAO headquarters in Rome on December 6, 2022 at 12:30 Central European time.
Source: FAO UN
