Inaugural Seminar Celebrating the International Year of Millets in Abuja, Nigeria

Highlighting the potential of millets to improve food security and nutrition, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and support rural development, the International Year of Millet encourages greater investment in millet production, research and development, and promotion of millets as a healthy food choice for all.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP) work together to enhance resilience in Nigeria and support the country in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their respective mandates. Their strengths are seen in their individual contributions to transforming the Nigerian food system and policies, particularly for smallholder farmers, as well as their contributions to humanitarian, development, and peace initiatives in critical project locations in Nigeria.

FAO Nigeria in conjunction with the IFAD Nigeria and WFP Nigeria will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to host relevant stakeholders to a seminar and exhibition to share knowledge and best practices on millet cultivation, processing, and utilization.

Nigeria is the third largest millet-producing country in the world after India and China and the leading producer in Africa followed by Niger and Mali. The production of millet in these countries accounts for about 97% of global production. The areas of production in Nigeria are Kaduna, Yobe, Kano, and Borno states.  In 2022, the production of millet in Nigeria was estimated to be two million metric tons.

Pearl millet is a staple food in millions of homes in Nigeria, especially among the poor. It is an important food across Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, and Sokoto. Like in most African countries, it is used to make porridge or millet juice, commonly known as kunu. It is often ground into flour, rolled into large balls, parboiled, liquefied into a watery paste using fermented milk and then consumed as “fura” or “tukura”, a popular beverage in northern Nigeria. It is an ideal choice for improving the nutritional outcome of children.

The objective of the inaugural seminar for the International Year of Millet is to build momentum and generate commitment for a national and global effort to promote millets as a sustainable and resilient food crop, and to mobilize resources and support for their production, consumption, and trade. Overall, this is a significant step towards reviving and promoting these ancient grains as a key element of a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system. 

The seminar is expected to achieve the following outputs:

• Promote research and development of millets to improve yields and nutritional value;
• Expand millet production through effective advisory services;
• Raise awareness among consumers on the nutritional and health benefits of millets; 
• Promote millet-based products in the food industry;
• Develop legal and administrative frameworks to strengthen the linkage between science and policy in the promotion of millet production, consumption and distribution across the country;
• Advocate more allocation of research resources from stakeholders towards sustainable millet production;
• Foster partnerships between governments, other relevant agencies and the private sector to support the sustainable development of millet-based systems;
• Public education campaigns and events to promote millets and their nutritional value, and other uses;
• Advocate for inclusion of millets in the social protection programmes for improved nutrition;
• Build partnerships and strengthen the existing ones;
• Help map all millet stakeholders/actors in the space;
• Empower stakeholders to take action;
• Contribute to achieving SDGs 2030.

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