Year of millets. Chant it out, if you please: Healthy diet millet is!

On 2 March 2023, a press conference of the members of the International Year of Millets’ Steering Committee for federal and regional media was held at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). 

At the beginning, MCCI Vice-President Suren Vardanyan read out a greeting from MCCI President Vladimir Platonov, who noted the importance of launching a series of events dedicated to “Russia’s joining the International Year of Millets (IYM) – a global action aimed at solving the urgent task of ensuring the widest possible dissemination of millet growing technology.” 

Suren Vardanyan recalled that the development of the agricultural production sector has been one of the most important strategic directions of the MCCI for many years. MCCI experts are convinced that the expansion of production and consumption of millet is an exceptionally promising and generous field for the agricultural sector. 

“Millet is one of the ancient agricultural crops. The suggestion of the FAO Moscow Office to hold IYM was supported by our Committee,” said Sergey Mitin, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’ Committee on Agrarian Food Policy and Environmental Management. 

“Considering the historical breeding record of millet as one of the most ancient plants first domesticated by human many centuries ago, as well as its importance as one of the main agricultural crops in many countries of the world, the implementation of plans under IYM, as Senator Mitin emphasized, will further strengthen Russia’s status as world’s leading agrarian state, and will also contribute to increasing the level of food security of the subjects of Russia.” 

“Despite the fact that the production of millet is inferior to other cereals, such as corn, rice, soybeans, one can distinguish its advantages, in particular, the content of micronutrients important for human health.” Millet contains a lot of iron, and protein – double what milk provides. 

Millet accounts for less than 3% of global trade in cereals. However, we should not forget, said Senator Mitin, that this crop “can grow in arid regions, temperate subtropical and tropical zones and become a valuable alternative to the traditional cultivation of cereals, which, due to climate change, can dramatically change their geography and volumes of their production.” 

“In the Russian Federation, the sowing of millet has sharply decreased. In 1991, the total sown area was about 2 million hectares. Last year, we sowed only about 238 000 hectares. It is a noticeable decline. At the same time, there is also a positive trend: the yield has increased by almost 20%; if earlier it did not exceed 8 centners per hectare; today we have reached the level of 12.5 centners per hectare. This indicates an improvement in millet cultivation technology, the use of new modern mechanisms, new seeds, precision farming. 

Exports have also increased sharply – last year Russia shipped 63 000 tons of millet abroad. Compared to 2020, this is an increase of 45%. This fact shows the global demand for millet and testifies to our capabilities and competitiveness.” 

“FAO has a good tradition of making regular suggestions to the “big” UN to dedicate this or that year to one of the most ancient agricultural crops. Over the past five years, we had International Years of potatoes, pulses, quinoa, said Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation. “Finally, in March 2021, the United Nations General Assembly, at its 75th session, proclaimed 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).” 

“Millet has been cultivated in Russia for hundreds of years. This crop has come to us by southern routes, as once has “Saracen grain” – by this name buckwheat is globally known – as well as brown mustard. Millet has rich potential. Both for human health and for the income of producers. Russia’s potential in growing, consuming and exporting this type of agricultural raw material and food products is tremendous. Not only a nutritional function of millet, but also its social function is of high importance. This is a popular product for families with low incomes, Oleg Kobiakov stressed. 

FAO office in Russia is pleased that our initiative has found an enthusiastic response and support from the widest circles, primarily from the Federation Council’ Committee on Agrarian Food Policy and Environmental Management.” 

An important element of the forthcoming work of the Steering Committee within the framework of IYM will be discussions of this issue, including with legislators in order to “identify legal gaps in the legislative field at the federal and regional levels in order to create the most favourable atmosphere for producers and consumers of this wonderful agricultural crop since in the context of climate change, according to the Head of the FAO Moscow office, for a number of Russian regions, millet is a very valuable crop in terms of production costs and nutritional qualities.” 

In India, millet is actively popularized because it “can solve the global issue of malnutrition and hunger,” Ved Prakash Singh, Head of the Economic and Commercial Department of the Embassy of the Republic of India in Russia, told the reporters. He called for the International Year of Millet to be celebrated “with great enthusiasm”. Ved Prakash Singh also announced a profile event: “With the support of our friends from the MCCI, we plan to hold a meeting of sellers and buyers (Russian and Indian ones) in the first week of April.” In addition, he shared plans to hold in Moscow a festival of delicacies prepared with millet, which numbers hundreds of various recipes. 

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The press conference proceeded with presentations by President of the Russian Guild of Bakers and Confectioners Yuri Katsnelson and Yulia Khramaykova, head of the Department for Interaction with government agencies of Magnit, one of the largest retail food chains in Russia. 

At the end, Yuri Katsnelson, one of the most authoritative technologists of the bakery industry, answered a variety of questions: Can millet be used in the bread business? Is it true that millet bread is healthier than wheat bread? Is the statement that millet bread does not make you fat true? Yes, millet flour can be used as an additive in some baked goods. However, when used in its pure form, millet flour allows you to bake only flat cakes, which are unlikely to be able to compete with lush wheat from tandoor. .” As for fattening from flour products, the topic comes down to the golden rule – everything should be in moderation, the famous pastry chef smiled. 

You can watch the recording here (in Russian language).

Background information 

Different varieties of millet are staple foods for more than 500 million people in more than 30 countries. In the total world millet production (30.5 million tones), India is a leader, followed by Nigeria, Niger and China. 

In March 2021, the 75th session of the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023), authorizing the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to serve as the lead agency for this year in collaboration with other stakeholders. 

The main goal of IYM 2023 is to raise awareness of the nutritional value of millet, its health benefits as a gluten-free food with a low glycemic index, and the ability to grow this unfastidious crop in adverse and variable climatic conditions. As one of the most ancient cultivated cereals on the planet, due to its precocity, drought resistance and salt tolerance, millet is more suitable than any other grain crop for cultivation in arid regions and saline soils. 

On 14 February 2023, the Federation Council’ Committee on Agrarian Food Policy and Environmental Management supported the suggestion of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation to establish the International Year of Millets’ Steering Committee, headed by First Deputy Chairman of the Committee S.G. Mitin. 

In addition to S.G. Mitin, the Steering Committee includes Director of the FAO Moscow Office Oleg Kobiakov, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Elena Dybova, Head of the Machine-building Department for Food and Processing Industries of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Construction-Road Machinery of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Maria Elkina, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Platonov, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Education and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Onishchenko, President of the Russian Guild of Bakers and Confectioners and Vice-President of the International Union of Bakers and Confectioners (UIBC) Yuri Katsnelson and other prominent representatives of Russian partner organizations. 

The Steering Committee is expected to coordinate and control the organization and holding of events in the Russian Federation in support of IYM 2023. 

Additional information about IYM 2023 in English can be found on the website: https://www.fao.org/millets-2023/en