A commemorative postage stamp on the International Year of Millets (IYoM-2023) to increase awareness about health and nutritional benefits of millets :

Issued by India

Issued on Mar 18, 2023

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on International Year of Millets 2023, thereby contributing in country’s nutritional security and holistic development of the citizens.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure : Shri Brahm Prakash
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 303700 each

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• ‘Millets’ were among the first crops to be domesticated in India with several evidence of its’ consumption during the Indus valley civilization. In India, millets are primarily a kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs than other similar staples. Millets are important by the virtue of its mammoth potential to generate livelihood, increase farmers’ income, and to ensure food & nutritional security all over the world. Globally, India ranks first in area coverage under millets followed by Niger and Sudan. Similarly, India holds first position in millets production in the world followed by USA. These are crops of semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa (especially in India, Mali, Nigeria, and Niger). In India, Millets are grown over an average area of 159.21 lakh hectares with a production of 121.44 lakh tonnes and yield 1311 kg/ha during the year 2021-22 (4^th Advance Estimates). The top five millet producing states include Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan has the highest area under millets cultivation (36%) followed by Maharashtra (19%), Karnataka (14%), Uttar Pradesh (9%), and Madhya Pradesh (5%).
• Recognising the enormous potential of Millets in holistic development, which also aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, the Government of India (GoI) prioritized Millets by promoting them between 2011-12 to 2013-14, under the Nutritional Security program. In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals”, followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets, aiming at larger promotion and demand generation.
• With the aim to generate mass awareness, increase production, productivity and strengthen the Millet value-chain towards enhanced Millet consumption, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, The United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM) on 5^th March 2021. The proposal submitted by the Government of India was supported by 72 countries. Through this declaration, the UNGA aims to elevate awareness of nutri-cereals (millets) for food security and nutrition, enhance investment in R&D and extension, and to inspire stakeholders towards improving production productivity and quality of millets. Additionally, the Government of India aims to make IYM 2023 a people’s movement for the country, inspiring Markets, Farmers & Consumers, so that the Indian millets, recipes, and value-added products come to be accepted globally.
• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has taken a proactive multistakeholder engagement approach (engaging all the Central government ministries, states/UTs, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian Embassies etc.) to achieve the objectives of IYM 2023 and taking Indian millets globally. Additionally, the DA&FW has devised “The Seven Sutras as the guiding principles for the IYM 2023”
  • Enhancement of Production/Productivity
  • Nutrition and health benefits
  • Value-addition, Processing & Recipe Development
  • Entrepreneurship/Start-up/Collective Development
  • Awareness creation – Branding, Labelling & Promotion
  • International outreach
  • Policy interventions for mainstreaming
• Additionally, six Task Force Committees have been constituted to tackle various issues and challenges across the millet value chain.
• Prior to the kick-start of India’s year-long grand celebration of ‘International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023’, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) took a proactive approach in mainstreaming millets through various international and national events and expos such as Dubai Expo, Surajkund Mela (Ministry of Tourism), Aahar – The international food & hospitality fair (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), BioFach, Saras Food festival (Ministry of Rural Development), etc., showcasing the diversity of various millets based value-added products.
• On 6^th December 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, organized an official opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 at Rome, Italy. The event was attended by a delegation of senior government officials from India. To mark the significance of this day in India, DA&FW launched and organized several initiatives, which includes an extensive social media campaign on the importance of Millets in the Indian context.
• Additionally, as a part of promotional activities of IYM 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare will also promote millets during the G20 & SCO presidency in India. Millets will be showcased through a byte sized millets exhibition during all the G20 & SCO working group meetings, along with a millet-based lunch and a specially curated millet hamper for all foreign dignitaries.
• The year 2023 will witness a year long campaign and several activities nationally and globally for increased adoption and promotion of millets.
  
• Text : Based on information received from the proponent.

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