The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference’ in New Delhi today. 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 6th 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 5th March 2021. The proposal submitted by the Government of India was supported by 72 countries.