The University of Hyderabad proudly hosted Millet-Utopia 2025, an inter-school competition aimed at promoting awareness about the significance of millets for food security, nutrition, energy, and environmental sustainability. This mega event, held on January 4, 2025, brought together students, teachers, and schools from across Hyderabad and beyond, making it a grand success. Themed ‘Millets for Food, Nutrition, Energy, and Environment,’ the event witnessed enthusiastic participation from 1358 students belonging to classes 8 to 10 from 50 schools. In addition, 168 teachers accompanied these students. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Appa Rao Podile, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad and Senior Professor of the Department of Plant Sciences. In his talk, Prof. Podile recalled his childhood memories of consuming millets as staple diet, and how he took up millets in his research. Prof. S. Rajagopal, Head of the Department, welcomed the gathering and emphasized the critical role of millets in addressing global food security challenges and promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
A total of six competitions including quiz, debate, drawing, skit, writing, and elocution provided a creative platform for students to showcase their talents and understanding of millets and their critical role in sustainable development. These competitions tested students’ knowledge of millets and their global importance, and more importantly, the competitions also explored innovative ideas on the biofuel potential of millets. The participants impressed everyone with their innovative ideas, confidence, and dedication to the theme. Their collective energy transformed Millet-Utopia 2025 into more than an event, where it became a celebration of youthful zeal and their commitment to making a difference. In keeping with the theme of the event, the refreshments and lunch served during Millet-Utopia 2025 were exclusively made from millets, showcasing their versatility and health benefits. Students and teachers relished the millet-based dishes, which added a delightful culinary experience to the day and further reinforced the importance of incorporating millets into daily diets.
The event concluded with a grand prize distribution ceremony, celebrating the remarkable talents and efforts of students. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, Prof. B.J. Rao, served as the Chief Guest to present the prizes to the winners. The Vice-Chancellor commended the participants, saying, “The enthusiasm and creativity displayed by the students are truly commendable. Their active participation highlights the growing awareness and responsibility among the younger generation to advocate for sustainable agriculture and healthy lifestyles. It is heartening to see their passion for learning and contributing to a better future.” Dr. Muthamilarasan, Convenor of Millet-Utopia 2025, remarked, “Hosting Millet-Utopia for the third time has been a deeply rewarding experience. Seeing over 1300 students enthusiastically participate in Millet-Utopia is both inspiring and motivating.”
Millet-Utopia 2025 has firmly established itself as a unique platform that not only raises awareness but also instills a sense of responsibility and pride in future generations about millets’ potential as the crops of tomorrow. The overwhelming response to this year’s Millet-Utopia 2025 underscores the growing recognition of millets as the grains of the future. Taking forward the legacy of the International Year of Millets celebrated in 2023, this event has reaffirmed the relevance of millets as the grains of the future and engaged the youth in meaningful ways to advocate for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.
