International Year of Millets - 2023: Union Agriculture Minister visits the Millets Culinary Carnival in Dilli Haat
Nutritious grains should get due space in our food plates again: Narendra
Singh Tomar
International Year of Millets - 2023 to be celebrated under India’s stewardship
The
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar has
said that nutritious grains should again get a respectable place in our food
plate. On the initiative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United
Nations has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets, under
which the Group of Ministers has also been entrusted with the responsibility by
the Prime Minister to promote nutri cereals. Many programmes have been planned
by the Central Government at the local, state, national and international
levels.
Tomar said this during his visit to the Millets Culinary Carnival at Dilli Haat today. Organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, this culinary festival is a major step towards celebrating the International Year of Millets (IYoM) - 2023 under the stewardship of India, where the use of millets in various cuisines is being displayed during live cookery shows in which eminent chefs from different parts of the country have also participated.
With the least water consumption, low carbon
footprint, and the fact that millets can be grown even during drought
conditions, the millets are referred to as climate-friendly crops. Millet forms
an alternative food system in an era of rising demand for vegetarian foods.
Millet contributes to a balanced diet as well as a safe environment. These are
the gifts of nature to mankind. Millets are a storehouse of micronutrients such
as B-complex vitamins and minerals that are lacking.
Organized in association with ICAR-IIMR, IHM
(Pusa) and IFCA, the chief guest at the festival, Tomar said that millets
should not be discarded by saying that it is the food of the poor, rather it
should be publicized the world over like Yoga and Ayurveda, since they all are
important from the point of view of health. India is a leading producer and
consumer of millet crops and their products. “I look forward to many more such
events to spread awareness about the consumption of millet and its health benefits,”
said Tomar.
Street play on Millets and Food Security was
performed by the students of Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and
Nutrition, Pusa. Tomar also inspected various stalls of millets and distributed
prizes. Out of 26 teams that vied for awards to the Best Culinary dishes made
of Millets, five teams were shortlisted. IHM Indore, Chitkara University and
ICI Noida bagged the top three places, while IHM Bhopal and IHM Mumbai also
participated in the final round.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary, Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja,
Additional Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi, Director General, ICAR, Dr Trilochan
Mohapatra and Director IIMR, Hyderabad, Ratnavati were also present in the
programme along with other dignitaries.
Through the
festival, the general public is getting an opportunity to taste the
nutritious-delicious dishes being made from millet. Information about nutrition
is being provided during this festival at Dilli Haat. This is also a great
opportunity to promote the nutritional benefits of millets, an opportunity for
entrepreneurship and a regular diet plan for the general public, in which many
startups and other stakeholders have participated. Various attractions of the
festival include panel discussion on 'Business Prospects for Small Scale
Industries and Entrepreneurs', street plays and quiz competitions through which
the virtues of millet are being disseminated. The festival will continue till
July 31.