India Hosts ASEAN-India Millets Festival in Jakarta

Current context: The ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023 was organized by the Indian Mission to ASEAN in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

• The festival took place in Indonesia from 22nd November to 26th November 2023.
• The festival was part of a broader initiative to raise awareness about millets, which are highly nutritious and environmentally friendly crops.
• Millets have been an integral part of our diet for centuries. 
• In addition to a plethora of health benefits, millets are also good for the environment with low water and input requirements.
• The festival aimed to create markets for millet-based products in the ASEAN region.
• It served as a platform for sharing knowledge and practices related to millet cultivation and consumption.
• This event is a significant step in promoting millets as part of the International Year of Millets 2023, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly.
• The festival not only promoted the consumption of millets but also contributed to the vision of the Eat Right India initiative by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the aegis of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Question:

Q.1 What was the main aim of the ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023?
a. To promote rice cultivation
b. To promote millet cultivation and consumption
c. To promote wheat cultivation
d. To promote corn cultivation