Embassy of India
 Tokyo

PRESS RELEASE

The year 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations. The proposal was sponsored by India and over 70 countries.

Embassy of India in Japan organized an event  "Harvesting the Potential: A Millet Celebration" today to celebrate the International Year of Millets. The event featured a seminar on the health benefits of Millets and their role in ensuring food security for the world. An exhibition on variety of Made-in-India Millets products was displayed at the event. The exhibition also showcased the culinary potential of Millets with Indian and Japanese dishes prepared by the Indian Restaurant Association in Japan (IRAJ).

The event was inaugurated by H.E Mr Sibi George, Ambassador of India to Japan; H.E. Mr Takaaki Katsumata, State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan; and Ms. Eriko Hibi, Director, Food and Agriculture Organization Liaison Office in Japan.  Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman of the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India also addressed the gathering through a video message.

In his remarks, Ambassador Sibi George highlighted the nutritional benefits of Millets and how their cultivation can address food security issues in an environment friendly way. He also underlined large scale production of Millets in India and India’s efforts to promote adoption of Millet as a food of choice globally.

State Minister H.E. Mr Takaaki Katsumata highlighted India-Japan cooperation in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food; efforts towards realizing the target of 5 trillion yen investments from Japan to India; and the rising consumption of Millets in Japan. He noted the significance of popularizing Millets as food security becomes a major issue for the international community, and in the G7 and G20, where Japan and India are leading efforts to solve global issues.

Director of FAO Liaision Office in Tokyo also highlighted the importance of Millets for sustainable agriculture and global food security and Chairman, APEDA underlined efforts of the Government of India to promote Millet consumption.

Tokyo
22 February 2023