New Delhi (India), Hybrid Event, 18/03/2023 - 19/03/2023
The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference at Subramaniam Hall, NASC Complex, IARI Campus, PUSA New Delhi. The two-day global conference included sessions on all important issues related to millets (Shree Anna) like promotion and awareness of millets among producers, consumers and other stakeholders; millets’ value chain development; health and nutritional aspects of millets; market linkages; research and development etc.
During the conference, video messages by the Head of State of two countries, Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia and Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana was also played, which talked about the unprecedented efforts taken to promote millets under the leadership of Indian Government.
Dedicating to the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023, the Indian Prime Minister unveiled a commemorative coin and stamp celebrating IYM followed by the digital launch of a book of millets (Shree Anna) standards. The Prime Minister also declared ICAR-IIMR as a Global Centre of Excellence which was followed by a screening of a short film on Shree Anna & IYM 2023.
The Global Millets Conference was also graced by the foreign Agriculture Ministers from 6 countries such as Guyana, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname and Zambia along with the delegations from Gambia, Maldives, & Nigeria.
The conference witnessed participation from 102 countries, including delegations from more than 40 embassies residing in India, Padma Shri awardee farmers, international & national chefs, decorated scientist, and representations from various international organizations and universities including World Food Programme, FAO, ICRISAT, IRRI, ICARDA, UNFCCC, IUCN, AARDO, IUCN, UNICEF etc.
Along with international participation, a vast representation of state governments, industries, start-ups, farmers, and students from various schools and colleges also contributed to making this program a huge success.
The conference was attended by more than 2000 people at the IARI, PUSA campus and more than 8.3 million people joined virtually from Krishi Vigyaan Kendras (KVKs), state agricultural universities, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), common service centres (CSCs), self-help groups (SHGs), State Governments and Indian Embassies abroad.
The inaugural session was followed by parallel sessions curated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and various industry associations along with an exhibition organized by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
