INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS (IYOM)-2023

• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited in New Delhi yesterday to boost the initiative visioned by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote Millets towards celebration of the International Year of Millets 2023.
• Both organizations will work together for the promotion and marketing of millet-based products, keeping in view the initiative of “International Year of Millets (IYOM)-2023” proposed by the Government of India to the United Nations, which is to be celebrated across the world.
• As India is gearing up to bring millet back on the global map, they will build support and organize, promote, market, and forge effective market linkages for millet-based products to maximize the value capture and millet-based commodities across the country.
• DA&FW and NAFED will collaborate in key areas like facilitating advisory support to
• manufacturers/processors of millet-based products to develop value-added millet-based commodities;
• on-boarding of start-ups, inclusive of start-ups empanelled with Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR);
• formation of FPOs specifically for developing a range of millet-based products;

promote and market millet-based products through the network of NAFED Bazaar Stores and other institutions linked with NAFED as well as installation of Millet based Vending Machines at various locations across Delhi-NCR; and dispensing millet-based products that shall assist in establishing the focus on millet-based commodities.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB