Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference

March 18, 2023

On March 18, 2023, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Global Millets Shree Anna Conference 2023 in the national capital. The event marks the beginning of a two-day global conference on millets, where Modi unveiled a customised postal stamp and commemorative currency coin to mark the International Year of Millets, being celebrated in 2023. This event is significant, as it will help to promote millet farming and nutrition across the globe.

International Year of Millets:

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM), accepting India’s proposal, on March 5, 2021. The aim of this declaration is to elevate awareness of nutri-cereals (millets) for food security and nutrition, enhance investment in research and development, and inspire stakeholders towards improving production, productivity, and quality of millets.

India’s approach to IYM 2023 is to make it a people’s movement for the overall benefit of the cultivator, consumer, and climate. The country has taken a multi-stakeholder engagement approach by involving farmers, startups, exporters, retail businesses, hotel associations, and various arms of the government in India and abroad to achieve the objectives of IYM 2023 and position India as the ‘Global Hub of Millets’.

Global Millets Shree Anna Conference 2023:

The two-day conference is expected to witness participation from over 100 countries, with several stakeholders attending the event virtually from across the globe. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and his counterparts from six countries were present at the event.

The Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) was named as the global centre of excellence. A roundtable session of agriculture ministers, as well as bilateral meetings, will be convened later. The 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.

Events at the Conference:

The conference will see the participation of several dignitaries such as Dr Jaquelene Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT; Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Director General & Regional Representative for Asia and Pacific, FAO; Kapil Dev, Cricketer; 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 a focus on millets will also be held, with the participation of more than 50 domestic and international buyers, importers, exporters, and processors for the 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.

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