Millets National Media Portal
Millets National Media Portal
Millets are central to global food security strategies, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia where food insecurity is highest. The FAO's declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets was driven by the recognition that millets' combination of climate resilience, nutritional density, and affordability makes them uniquely positioned to address simultaneous food, nutrition, and economic security challenges.
Millet's contributions to global food security:
Staple for 1 billion+ people: Millets provide the primary caloric and nutritional foundation for over 1 billion people in Asia and Africa, predominantly in regions most vulnerable to food insecurity.
Production in food-insecure regions: 97% of millet production occurs in developing countries — exactly where food insecurity is most severe — meaning millet cultivation directly targets the most vulnerable populations.
Climate change buffer: As wheat and rice yields are projected to decline 6–10% per 1°C of temperature rise, millet's heat and drought tolerance positions it as a critical food security buffer crop for the 21st century.
Affordable nutrition: Per calorie, millets are among the most affordable nutrient-dense foods, making adequate nutrition economically accessible to the poorest communities.
Post-COVID resilience: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed global supply chain vulnerabilities; millets' local production and minimal processing requirements create decentralized, resilient food supplies.
Malnutrition prevention: Millets simultaneously address protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies (iron, zinc, calcium, B-vitamins) — the dual burden of malnutrition — in a single affordable crop.
Policy support: India's National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and multiple African government programs now support millet cultivation as a primary food security strategy.
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