Nepal observed its first National Millet Day on 16 Shrawan 2082 (1 August 2025), with initiatives aimed at raising awareness of the nutritional and economic value of millet cultivation. The celebration follows a recent decision by the Government of Nepal to designate 16th of the month of Shrawan each year as National Millet Day, recognizing millet as a crop essential for food security, healthy diets, and climate resilience.

According to Krishi Radio, a community-based agricultural radio station, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration issued directives to all 753 local bodies to mark the occasion under the national slogan “Diet of Millet Dishes: The Basis of Food Security and Healthy Living.”

In Dhading District, the Agriculture Development Office, in partnership with Krishi Radio, organized the inaugural program. Activities included field visits, interactive broadcasts, and on-site demonstrations aimed at informing farmers about millet’s benefits. Radio segments featured voices of farmers, local policymakers, agricultural technicians, health officials, and business representatives engaged in millet production and marketing.

Key messages highlighted during the programs included:

• Millet is a versatile and highly nutritious crop with significant health benefits.
• Government support is needed to further expand millet cultivation.
• In Dhunibeshi Municipality of Dhading district alone, millet is cultivated across 300 hectares, generating income comparable to or exceeding cash vegetable crops.
• Millet consumption should be integrated into regular diets rather than treated as an occasional or novelty food.
• Farmer groups, cooperatives, and women entrepreneurs can benefit from the municipality’s new agricultural market by promoting millet-based food products.

The field-level celebrations were both symbolic and practical. Senior officials from the Agricultural Development Office and local cooperatives joined farmers in planting and harvesting millet, reinforcing the crop’s value as both a traditional and modern livelihood option. Farmers were also introduced to millet-based foods, such as cookies, demonstrating the diversity of dishes possible from the grain.

The event underscored millet’s role not only in improving nutrition but also in addressing environmental challenges. As Krishi Radio reported, millet helps reduce soil erosion and represents a resilient crop in the face of climate change.

By mobilizing communities through radio, the first National Millet Day in Nepal successfully elevated awareness about millet’s potential. The participation of government authorities alongside farming communities highlighted a growing recognition of millet as both a heritage crop and a pillar of future food security. 

This article is a contribution of AMARC Asia-Pacific, one of the steering committee members of Com DevAsia.