Closing ceremony of the International Year of Millets 2023 held in hybrid mode at FAO HQ in Rome, Italy
Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare graced the global occasion along with various esteemed
dignitaries from renowned international organizations and delivered keynote
address highlighting India’s achievements in the global campaign of the
superfood
The Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) organised closing ceremony of the International
Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 on 29 March 2024 at the FAO headquarters, Rome,
Italy. The high-level hybrid event that allowed participants to join both in person
and virtually and was graced by esteemed dignitaries from various parts of the
world, including Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare Maninder Kaur Dwivedi from Government of India.
Additional
Secretary, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Department of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare, Government of India underscored the significance of India’s thriving
Millet ecosystem comprising various Start-Ups, Industries, FPOs, in increasing
promotion and adoption of millets.
Director General, FAO, Dr QU Dongyu in his opening
remarks at the official closing ceremony, commended the international community
for their commitment to advancing millet-related initiatives and emphasized the
crucial role of millets in achieving food security and nutrition for all.
Minister and Permanent Representative of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria to FAO Yaya Adisa Olaitan Olaniran shed light on the
significance of millets and outlined strategies for integrating millet
cultivation into sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
Further in the ceremony, attendees were treated to a
captivating video showcasing the diverse range of activities and events organised
under the International Year of Millets 2023 across different regions,
fostering the global reach and impact of the initiative.
The ceremony came to a close with the concluding remarks
of Deputy Director General FAO Beth Bechdol expressing gratitude to all
participants for their unwavering commitment and dedication to the success of
the International Year of Millets 2023 and highlighting the importance of
sustaining momentum in promoting millets beyond the designated year.
Following a proposal by India, backed by more than 70
countries, the United Nations General Assembly, at its 75th session in March
2021, declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The year-long
celebration successfully raised awareness about the nutritional and health
benefits of millet consumption, the suitability of millets for cultivation
under adverse and changing climatic conditions, and the benefits of creating
sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers. The closing
ceremony served as a forum to take stock of the accomplishments of, and lessons
learned from, IYM 2023 and identify priorities for future investments,
particularly to address identified constraints and strengthen millets value
chains.
The event showcased a series of insightful discussions
and presentations underscoring the importance of millets in achieving
sustainable development goals and its emergence as ‘Global Superfood’.
Director, ICAR-IIMR Dr C Tara Satyavathi shared insights into India's R&D
endeavours to develop a robust Millets value chain at a Roundtable Discussion
on 'Research and Development for the Millets Sector,' a significant side event
convened as part of #IYMClosingCeremony,
A special exhibition featuring showcase of value added millet
products from across the world and a live cooking were also organised.