Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday expressed confidence that 'Shree Anna' will benefit the country's 2.5 crore marginal farmers by strengthening the rural economy through its market and associated ecosystem.
Speaking after inaugurating the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference in New Delhi, he underlined that the climate-resilient quality of millet can help in fighting problems related to the water crisis. The Prime Minister stressed the need for developing a stable mechanism for sharing agricultural practices of millet cultivation among friendly countries.
He said that with this mechanism there is a possibility of developing a supply chain that can promote millet from field to market effectively. Modi informed that the contribution of Millet to the national food basket is a mere five to six per cent and urged scientists involved in research and all stakeholders to contribute to increasing this percentage.
Terming cultivation of Millet as a guaranteed solution to the good health of soil and humans, the Prime Minister said that Millet can tackle the challenge of climate change, food security and lifestyle-generated diseases. He said 'Shree Anna' is not only limited to food or agriculture but also an important medium in the country's prosperity. The PM said that the government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure that marginal farmers can thrive with millet cultivation.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister unveiled a customised postal stamp and currency coin on the International Year of Millets. Agriculture ministers of various foreign countries, scientists and other stakeholders are participating in this two-day conference to deliberate on the promotion and awareness of millets among producers, consumers and other stakeholders; millets’ value chain development; health and nutritional aspects of millets and market linkages.
In his address, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the International Year of Millets (IYM) – 2023 will provide an opportunity to increase global production, efficient processing and better use of crop rotation and promote millets as a major component of the food basket.
Tomar said that on the initiative of Prime Minister Modi, the United Nations has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM). The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is working in mission mode to increase millet production and consumption in collaboration with other Central Ministries, all State Governments and other stakeholders, he said.
Tomar said Millets provide an alternative food system in times of increasing demand for vegetarian foods as it contributes to a balanced diet as well as a safe environment and described them as the gifts of nature to mankind.
He said, Asia and Africa are the major production and consumption centers of millet crops, particularly India, Niger, Sudan and Nigeria are the major producer of millets and it his earnest desire to see that Millets should take pride of place in every eating plate in the globe. Millets were the first crops to be cultivated in Asia and Africa, later spreading as an important food source for advanced civilizations around the world.
President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali lauded Prime Minister Modi for organising the First Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference and said this event will go a long way in addressing the World’s Foremost Challenge of Food Insecurity. In a Video Message from Guyana, Ali offered 200 Acres of Land in his country for exclusive production of Millets in honour of the United Nations declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millet (IYOM). He said India in exchange will provide technology and technical support for enhancing the farm production and productivity of this wonder food.