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Win-win situation where millet is concerned

Jan 22, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – I am enthused that some 1,300 acres of millet is being cultivated in Guyana. We have the land mass and we should push for things of this nature. I see that millet “… is currently under cultivation at Tacama Mega Farm in the Berbice River, and according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, more lands will be cultivated as the ministry plans to further expand production in Regions Five, Nine, and 10.” I can hardly wait.

Another note-worthy point is that millet is now the sixth most important cereal grain in the world. In the contemporary United States, millet is often used to feed pets, livestock, and birds, but it is growing in consumer popularity. This is because it is gluten free and a good source of protein, fiber, micronutrients. The reading reveals that millet is rich in niacin, which is important for healthy skin and organ function. It also has beta-carotene, especially the dark-colored grains, which convert to vitamin A, help the body fight free radicals, and support the immune system.

So, land-wise and nutritionally, millet must be pursued. In fact, millet is a unique crop that can be grown even in adverse weather and soil conditions.

In terms of inputs, it is quite assuring that “Guyanese authorities, recognising that India was a powerhouse in millet production, were looking to leverage expertise from the Asian nation to advance Guyana’s food security efforts.” As the dailies reported, “During a virtual address at the two-day Global Millet Conference in New Delhi, India, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, highlighted that India is the largest millet producer globally and is also assuming global leadership in advancing the objective of addressing one of the world’s most foremost challenges which is food security.” Last year was deemed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as the International Year of Millets (IYM). This was what India proposed and it was agreed to.

So, I repeat: “Millet production is really a big thing,” and it is not surprised that millions of people depend on millet as a vital source of food, and it is grown in many parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, and South America. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), millet is grown in over 100 nations throughout the world, with India, Nigeria, and Niger being the top three producers. Thus, I agree with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government that “… the production of millet has the potential to be a game changer in ensuring greater food security across the world.”

As was explained to the public, “Guyana has identified the production of millets as having great potential towards enhancing national and regional food security. As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) implements vision 25 by 2025 to reduce the food import bill by approximately $US1 billion by 2025, millet is an ideal solution to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains.”

Let me sound a little caveat though, as in every good thing, there are precautions to take note of, and millet has its ‘how to use’ guides. Overall, it is best to consume millet in moderate amounts; three or four times a week is ideal. However, it is not recommended for people with hypothyroidism, people having thyroid disorders should avoid consuming millet because it leads to the enlargement of the thyroid. Otherwise, millet is a great investment in Guyana. Plus, one variety of the crop, ‘Pearl millet,’ has been shown to be a suitable feed ingredient for poultry diets. Up to 50% pearl millet can be added to broiler diets without adversely affecting performance.

Pearl millet is higher in methionine than corn, alleviating some of the need for synthetic methionine supplementation in organic poultry diets. And since Guyana is big on poultry, then there should be no-stopping’ where the millet drive is concerned.

Yours truly,
HB Singh

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