UGC ready to Celebrate 2023 as the “International Year of Millets”

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently issued a directive to all Higher Education Institutions to participate in the International Year of Millets (IYoM) 2023. This move aims to create awareness regarding climate-resilient and nutritious crops across the globe. 

UGC’s affiliated colleges are required to participate in several activities and programs as part of this celebration. The council has requested that universities conduct educational campaigns highlighting millets’ nutritional advantages, which can “address contemporary lifestyle issues and health challenges like obesity and diabetes.” The letter addressing the stakeholder of HEIs instructed them to chalk out additional programs that they will be undertaking in the next academic year in this direction. 

Why was “Millets” Chosen? 

Millets are a collective group of small-seeded annual grain crops called the ‘super grain’ because of their high nutritional value owing to large amounts of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. As per the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India, our country is the major producer of Millet, accounting for 80% of Asia’s and 20% of the global production. 

Millets have been one of the major staple foods of central India for centuries, but after the advent of high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat during the 1970s, millets slowly got side-lined from the food basket. In order to increase awareness of the economic and health benefits of millets to the general public, India took the lead supported by over 70 nations in the United Nations General Assembly, which declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets. 

upGrad Campus Suggestions on the List of Activities

Certain recipes using food grains like rice and wheat can be replaced by Millet in the canteens of Higher Education institutes. New recipes and dishes using millets can be added to enhance the grains’ awareness, use and health benefits.

Propagation of benefits of consumption of Millet by displaying charts, posters and banners in and around the eateries on campuses. 

Various workshops/seminars/conferences or lecture series can be organized on growing, consumption and globalisation of  Millets.

HEIs can conduct various competitions during fests on the theme of Millets like: Creating an informative documentary on millets, Composing catchy songs on millets, Making interesting comics on millets.

Creating a club for IYoM and pooling in innovative ideas to increase millet production and consumption through various startups.

  

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