GITAM University launches year-long nutrition initiative to mark International Year of Millets

NEW DELHI: Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) has recently initiated the launch of a unique programme themed Nutrition through Nutri Millets. Furthering the UN's recognition of 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IMY), Prof D S Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor, GITAM, Hyderabad and Professor Dattatri K Nagesha are in charge of the programme. The launch event will kick off year-long activities celebrating the nutritional importance of millet and creating awareness for the same.

Eminent experts including Dr B Neeraja Prabhakar, Vice Chancellor, Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University (SKLTSHU); Dr C V Ratnavathi, Director, Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad; Dr B Dayakar Rao, Principal Scientist and CEO, Nutrihub, IIMR, Hyderabad, Dr Ananthan, Scientist, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad and B Salome, Board of Director, VIKASA will grace the launch event with their presence.

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In hopes of adding to the momentum on millets, GITAM is also planning to establish incubation centres on millets in addition to those on fruits and vegetables. An agreement with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) is also in the works.

Throughout the year, the students and faculty of the Department of Food Science and Technology, GITAM School of Science will be presented with a unique opportunity to help promote consumption, better utilization of crop rotations and encourage better connectivity throughout food supply systems to promote millets as a key component of the food basket. The year-long celebrations will entail recipe competitions, elocution competitions and essay competitions, to boost millet adoption in daily diets.

"Millets were among the earliest cereals to have been ever cultivated, however, they lost their popularity in India post the Green Revolution as consumption moved more towards refined cereal food and food products. Now that climate change is causing global food shortages and malnutrition is plaguing large parts of the world, millets are seen as a potential solution to global food problems," explains Uma Maheswari Kodi, Professor, Food Science and Technology, GITAM School of Science, Hyderabad.

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Talking at the event, Dr B Neeraja Prabhakar, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman State Horticulture University, will be enlightening the attendees on how the millets have become a primary food crop in the 21st Century, with recent advances in production as well as the processing of millets.

Nutrition through Nutri Millet's initiative is seen as a significant step towards promoting millets as the “Future Super Food” for India. The awareness of different millet types and the recognition of the nutritional significance of millet is expected to create domestic demand. Exploring innovative ideas in food processing allows young minds to be a part of food and nutritional security.