Millets And Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative

April 21, 2023

Participants of G20 Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists on “Sustainable Agriculture and Food System for Healthy People and Planet” in Varanasi unanimously supported launch of MAHARISHI- Millets And Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative.
Its secretariat will be housed at Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad with technical support from ICRISAT, One CGIAR Centres and other International organisations.
It will focus on research and awareness about agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition aligning with International Year of Millets 2023.
- 2018 was observed as National Year of Millets in India.
Millets are known as nutri-cereals or superfoods, mainly grown on marginal land in dry areas of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions.
Some of the common millets available in India are Ragi (Finger millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Sama (Little millet), Bajra (Pearl millet), Variga (Proso millet) etc.
India is the largest producer of millet in the world accounting for 20% of global production and 80% of Asia’s production.