Indian Army conducts Millet Symposium in Delhi to mark 'International Year of Millets'
Dec 14, 2023
New Delhi [India], December 14 : The Indian Army conducted 'Millet March: Nourishing the Defenders of the Nation by Rebooting Rations with Millets", a symposium to mark the 'International Year of Millets - 2023' in Delhi on Thursday.
The event was organised at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment, under the aegis of Headquarters Delhi Area as part of the numerous promotional events that have been undertaken by the Indian Army to spread awareness about the benefits of millets.
The event was presided over by Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar. In the address, he highlighted how 'Shree Annas' has the power to transform "our food ecosystem, protect our environment and uplift farming communities."
Besides the attendees from all three services, the symposium also saw the participation of S Vijayarani, Director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Northern Region and officials from the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
Millets had always been a part of a soldier's diet and were part of troop rations until the early 1970s, after which the increased availability of rice and wheat grains led to their discontinuation, as per an official release.
The re-introduction of millets in the Army would give a fillip to production and market demand. Being gluten-free and a healthier cereal would also enhance the fitness levels of all ranks besides giving impetus to the government's drive, it added.
Today, India has become the leader in global millet production with nearly 20 per cent share of global production, over 100 million dollars in exports of millet products that have helped shed its image as the 'Poor Man's Food'. The DFRL has also led innovations to make sure that these products are tailor-made for "Farm to Kitchen" and "Kitchen to Fork".
The advantages of the inclusion of millets in diet and the steps taken by the Army to promote millets by introducing millet-based recipes, cooking competitions and publicising their health benefits were highlighted during the symposium.
The event culminated with a display of millet-based foods and snacks specially curated by the Army Services Corps.
