PM Modi inaugurates Global Millets Conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day ‘Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference' on March 18, 2023, in New Delhi.  He unveiled a customised postal stamp as well as a commemorative currency coin to mark the International Year of Millets, being celebrated in 2023.

During the event, a video on millets was released with the announcement of Hyderabad-based ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research as the global center of excellence.

“Millets are now known as 'Shree Anna'. It is not confined to just food or agriculture. Shree Anna is now becoming a medium of complete development in India. And, India's Millet Mission will become a blessing for 2.5 crore marginal farmers. After independence, this is for the first time that a government is paying attention to the needs of millet-producing farmers,” Modi said at the event, adding that the initiative is not only for global goods but also for its management.

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister and his counterparts from six other countries were present at the event. The heads of State of Ethiopia and Guyana also spoke via video messages at the event.

The Prime Minister urged companies to take advantage of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing sector to increase the production of millet-based products.

The Assistant Director General & Regional Representative for Asia and Pacific, Piyush Goel, FAO Mansukh Mandaviya, wrestler Geeta Phogat,  Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Dr. Jaquelene Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT, Jong-Jin Kim, cricketer Kapil Dev, President, World Association of Chefs Thomas  Gugler were also present at the event.

Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)/Farmers’ Self-Help Groups, Gram Panchayats, Agri-Universities, Hotel Management Schools, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Common Service Centres (CSC), Cooperative Institutions, Indian Embassies, and Diaspora too participated in the global event.