Mar 17, Colombo: Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera left for India yesterday (16) to attend the Global Conference on International Year of Millets held in New Delhi, India from March 18-19.

Minister Amaraweera is participating in this event at the invitation of the Indian Minister of Agriculture.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the ‘Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference’ marking the International Year of Millets 2023 in New Delhi on March 18 and address the participants.

The two-day global conference will have sessions on all important issues related to millets like promotion and awareness of millets among producers, consumers and other stakeholders; millets’ value chain development; health and nutritional aspects of millets; market linkages; research and development etc.

The conference will be attended by Agriculture Ministers of various countries, international scientists, nutritionists, health experts, start-up leaders and other stakeholders.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM) on 5th March 2021 based on a proposal submitted by the Government of India and 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.