The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) concluded the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 with a closing ceremony, aiming to review the achievements and lessons learned from the year and to set priorities for future investments. The ceremony, held at FAO headquarters in Rome, featured both in-person and virtual attendance from dignitaries worldwide.
Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Additional Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, represented India at the event. She highlighted India’s flourishing millet ecosystem, including startups, industries, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), in promoting and adopting millets.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu praised the international community for their dedication to millet-related initiatives, emphasizing millets’ role in achieving food security and nutrition. Yaya Adisa Olaitan Olaniran, Minister and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to FAO, discussed strategies for integrating millet cultivation into sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
The ceremony featured a video showcasing the diverse activities and events organized during the International Year of Millets 2023, highlighting its global impact. Deputy Director-General of FAO, Ms. Beth Bechdol, thanked all participants for their commitment and emphasized the importance of continuing to promote millets beyond 2023.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets following a proposal by India, supported by over 70 countries. The year-long celebration raised awareness about the nutritional benefits of millets, their adaptability to adverse climatic conditions, and the importance of sustainable market opportunities.
The closing ceremony served as a platform to review the achievements and lessons learned from IYM 2023 and to identify priorities for future investments to strengthen millets’ value chains. A series of discussions highlighted millets’ role in achieving sustainable development goals and their recognition as a ‘Global Superfood.’
As part of the ceremony, a special exhibition showcased millet-value added products from around the world, and a live cooking demonstration was organized.