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The Millet Festival
From March 11-13, 2023, Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, hosted the second annual Millet Festival. The festival took over the city's streets, markets, and museums, attracting widespread public and official participation, along with international organizations aiming to stimulate interest in millet production.
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From March 11-13, 2023, Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, hosted the second annual Millet Festival. The festival took over the city's streets, markets, and museums, attracting widespread public and official participation, along with international organizations aiming to stimulate interest in millet production.
The Governor of South Darfur, Hamid Al-Tijani Hanoun, inaugurated the annual Millet Festival at the Darfur Community Museum. Hanoun stated that the festival coincides with Sudan's growing interest in this crop, adding that 2023 was declared the International Year of Millet by the United Nations. He emphasized that millet could serve as a future alternative to wheat for Sudanese citizens. The festival's primary goal is to raise awareness and increase the production and consumption of millet, a highly nutritious grain, with low water and input requirements for cultivation.
Despite the lack of government support and subsidies for millet production compared to wheat, the area cultivated for millet and production in Sudan ranks just after sorghum. The annual cultivated area for millet averages around six million acres, with approximately 95% of this land located in western Sudan—specifically in Kordofan and Darfur—as well as in Gedaref, Kassala, Blue Nile, and Halfa Al-Jadida.
Ashraf Ahmed Saad, head of the Millet Festival Initiative, stated that the festival aims to preserve cultural heritage. He also noted that overcoming challenges related to technology, financing, and seed availability would contribute to economic recovery by providing millet as an alternative to wheat and other imported grains.
The festival featured a variety of activities, including a procession led by horsemen from the market to the museum with traditional drums and music, a variety of exhibitions, scientific papers, theatrical performances, singing, and competitions. One of the most notable events was the "Gadah Al-Miram" competition, held in the gardens of Al-Taktik Resort. Young women were invited to compete in preparing traditional dishes such as Furundu, Kul, and Mindaji, with a particular focus on millet-based foods like Asida. The winner was crowned the "Millet Queen."
Additionally, various millet-based foods were showcased, including Joujar, Damsoro, Aboud Takaro, and Umm Tabag, along with millet-based baked goods like bread, biscuits, cupcakes, and pizza. The cultural programme, organized by the Association of the Blind and the Karari Cultural Forum, highlighted poetry, singing, and diverse talents performed by visually impaired participants.
The festival also featured a scientific paper titled "Rainfed Millet Cultivation in Sudan, with a Focus on South Darfur State", presented by Professor Ali Buqadi Fadali. He discussed the significance of millet in western Sudan and its role in animal nutrition.
From March 11-13, 2023, Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, hosted the second annual Millet Festival. The festival took over the city's streets, markets, and museums, attracting widespread public and official participation, along with international organizations aiming to stimulate interest in millet production.
The Governor of South Darfur, Hamid Al-Tijani Hanoun, inaugurated the annual Millet Festival at the Darfur Community Museum. Hanoun stated that the festival coincides with Sudan's growing interest in this crop, adding that 2023 was declared the International Year of Millet by the United Nations. He emphasized that millet could serve as a future alternative to wheat for Sudanese citizens. The festival's primary goal is to raise awareness and increase the production and consumption of millet, a highly nutritious grain, with low water and input requirements for cultivation.
Despite the lack of government support and subsidies for millet production compared to wheat, the area cultivated for millet and production in Sudan ranks just after sorghum. The annual cultivated area for millet averages around six million acres, with approximately 95% of this land located in western Sudan—specifically in Kordofan and Darfur—as well as in Gedaref, Kassala, Blue Nile, and Halfa Al-Jadida.
Ashraf Ahmed Saad, head of the Millet Festival Initiative, stated that the festival aims to preserve cultural heritage. He also noted that overcoming challenges related to technology, financing, and seed availability would contribute to economic recovery by providing millet as an alternative to wheat and other imported grains.
The festival featured a variety of activities, including a procession led by horsemen from the market to the museum with traditional drums and music, a variety of exhibitions, scientific papers, theatrical performances, singing, and competitions. One of the most notable events was the "Gadah Al-Miram" competition, held in the gardens of Al-Taktik Resort. Young women were invited to compete in preparing traditional dishes such as Furundu, Kul, and Mindaji, with a particular focus on millet-based foods like Asida. The winner was crowned the "Millet Queen."
Additionally, various millet-based foods were showcased, including Joujar, Damsoro, Aboud Takaro, and Umm Tabag, along with millet-based baked goods like bread, biscuits, cupcakes, and pizza. The cultural programme, organized by the Association of the Blind and the Karari Cultural Forum, highlighted poetry, singing, and diverse talents performed by visually impaired participants.
The festival also featured a scientific paper titled "Rainfed Millet Cultivation in Sudan, with a Focus on South Darfur State", presented by Professor Ali Buqadi Fadali. He discussed the significance of millet in western Sudan and its role in animal nutrition.
