The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference’ in New Delhi tomorrow and address the participants. On the occasion, he will unveil a customised postal stamp and currency coin on the International Year of Millets (IYM) - 2023. A video on Millets will also be released during the event, with the announcement of ICAR-IIMR as the Global Centre of Excellence.

The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar will also address the Inaugural Session. Video messages from the Heads of State of Ethiopia and Guyana would be played during the Inaugural ceremony. Agriculture Ministers from six countries will be present at the event. For the Agriculture Ministers a roundtable session and bilateral meetings will also be convened. The global conference is expected to witness participation from over 100 countries and several stakeholders will attend the event virtually from across the globe.

On 6^th December 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations organized an official Opening Ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 at Rome, Italy. In continuation to the celebration of IYM 2023, India has proposed to hold this first Global Conference.

            The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM) on 5^th March 2021. The proposal submitted by the Government of India was supported by 72 countries. Through this declaration, the UNGA aims to elevate awareness of nutri-cereals (millets) for food security and nutrition, enhance investment in R&D and extension, and to inspire stakeholders towards improving production productivity and quality of millets. The Government of India (GOI) aims to make IYM 2023 a people’s movement for the overall benefit of the Cultivator, Consumer and Climate.

To take the momentum forward, Government of India has taken a multi-stakeholder engagement approach by involving farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotel associations and various arms of the Government in India and abroad to achieve the objectives of IYM 2023 and positioning India as the ‘Global Hub of Millets’. The year 2023 will witness a year-long campaign and several activities nationally and globally for increased adoption and promotion of millets.

During the two-day Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference, parallel conferences and technical sessions will be held for all the delegates and participants by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and industry associations, such as Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) deliberating on topics related to millets value chain, health & nutritional benefits of millets, climate change and sustainability. These parallel conferences/sessions will witness participation from dignitaries such as Dr. Jaquelene Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT; Mr Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Director General & Regional Representative for Asia and Pacific, FAO; Shri Kapil Dev, Cricketer; Ms Geeta Phogat, Wrestler, Commonwealth Gold Medallist; Chef Thomas Gugler, President, World Association of Chefs, etc., alongside an esteemed audience of Padma Awardee farmers.

An Exhibition-cum- Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) with focus on Millets will also be held with participation of more than 50 domestic and international buyers, importers, exporters and processors for promotion of millets. The exhibition of more than 100 stalls will showcase millets and millet-based ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products, by millet-based Startups, exporters, and live cooking sessions by various international and national chefs.

The two-day conference will also witness wider participation from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)/ Farmers Self-Help Groups, Schools, Agri-Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Gram Panchayats, Common Service Centres (CSC), Cooperative Institutions, Hotel Management Schools, Indian Embassies, and Diaspora, etc.

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