Masvingo, Zimbabwe
23 March 2023
Visiting officials from Italy, the FAO and the Secretariat of the International Treaty joined Zimbabwean officials, civil society organizations and farmers to celebrate the International Year of Millets (IYM). The celebrations, which put the spotlight on the many advantages of growing and consuming millets, were held in Masvingo, the country’s oldest city, resonating with the IYM slogan “rich in heritage, full of potential.”
“It is my pleasure to be here with you, on behalf of the international Treaty, to talk about the rich potential of traditional grains that offer us solutions for a number of current global issues, particularly in light of the changing climate, growing world population and the diminishing diversity of the food crops we all depend on for our survival and health,” said Kent Nnadozie, Secretary, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in his remarks at the event.
The UN General Assembly, at its 75th session, declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM) with the objective to raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions. Zimbabwe joined the world in commemorating the International Year of Millets, as a recognition of the potential of millets to alleviate hunger.
“The Government of Zimbabwe recognizes the potential of millets to alleviate hunger in face of climate change, and help small holder farmers become prosperous. The International year of Millets is a wakeup call for us to think beyond maize for food security & better nutrition,” said Vangelis Peter Haritatos, Deputy Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development for Zimbabwe, during today’s IYM event.
The FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, Patrice Talla added that direct policy interventions were needed to promote the sustainable production of millets, while highlighting their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers. “We need to ensure millets are integrated into mainstream agriculture, diets, industries and health for everyone to attain better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life - including the participation of youth, women, and vulnerable communities, leaving no one behind,” he said.
In their address, the Italian Government reaffirmed its commitment to fund the International Treaty’s Benefit-sharing Fund, which supports agricultural programs in developing countries, and helps connects local communities to the larger global community, including projects in Zimbabwe that include millets as a target crop. The Fund, which has supported 80 projects in 67 developing countries, to date, operates with the support of donors, including Italy, Norway and the European Union.
“Over the past 18 years, Italy has contributed 10 million dollars to the International Treaty. These resources have supported the Benefit-sharing Fund that has fostered projects for conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in developing countries,” said Ignazio Verde of CREA, the Italian research organization that falls under the supervision of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests. “Until 2025, Italy will guarantee to the International Treaty about 600,000 dollars a year,” he added.
“We commend the government of Zimbabwe’s effort and programmes in promoting traditional grains,” said Bernard de Schrevel, Head of Agriculture, Private Sector and Trade of the European Union delegation to Zimbabwe. “Going forward, working with the Ministry of Agriculture, we intend to create more synergies in research, value addition and extension services to strengthen the gains achieved under the BSF (of the International Treaty),” he said. The European Union is among the steadfast supporters and contributors to the Benefit-sharing Fund of the International Treaty.
“We need to salute traditional millets (sorghum, finger millet and pearl millet) in recognition of the role they play in our dietary diversity and defining livelihood forms, especially in semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe,” said Clever Chingwara, Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province on behalf of the Minister of State, Hon. Ezra Chadzamira.
“We need to work together in a collaborative and coherent manner to ensure that the International Year of Millets brings about successful results from all the key stakeholders,” said Andrew Mushita, Executive Director of Community Technology Development Organisation.
The IYM celebration in Masvingo was attended by close to 100 people, including members of the Zimbabwean Press, and representatives of the European Union and Italian delegations in Zimbabwe.
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