Exhibition Organized by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare at IARI Campus, PUSA, today in Delhi
In a one-of-a-kind exhibition today at IARI Campus, Pusa, the first ladies and spouses of G20 member countries had a first-hand look at India's agricultural expertise. The event was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. The event included a number of fascinating elements, including a millet-focused live cooking session led by celebrity chefs Kunal Kapur, Anahita Dhondy, and Ajay Chopra, as well as the display of state-of-the-art agricultural technology from well-known Indian startups, interaction with Indian women agri-champions, and 'Agri-Street'.
The spouses travelled to the exhibition area after making a quick pit break at the "Rangoli Area," which was home to two enormous "Millet Rangolis." The stunning pieces of art were created utilising millet grains and regional Indian symbols. The first rangoli illustrated the "Harmony of Harvest" theme and revealed India's long-standing agricultural customs. This exhibit highlighted India's agricultural prowess while highlighting the crucial responsibilities that women play in boosting agricultural resilience. This intriguing Rangoli, which was created using terracotta pots, millets, and native toys to represent the various agricultural contributions made by women, became one of the event's standout moments. The theme of the second rangoli composition, "The World is One Family," reflected the cultural tenet of India. India, a significant agricultural country, is important to the world's food security. As a result, the second rangoli honoured India's dedication to peace and sustainability on a worldwide scale.
The couples saw the vibrant Agri-startup ecosystem at the exhibition area, where 15 Agri-startups displayed their cutting-edge tech solutions to tackle practical issues and digitise agriculture. The exhibition included a number of topics, including Climate Smart Agriculture, Innovation in the Agriculture Value Chain, Agri-logistics & Supply Chains, Quality Assurance for Sustainable Consumption, and Millets: Sustaining Health, Empowering Agriculture. As part of the theme "Empowering Rural Prosperity through Collective Agriculture," varied members of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from across the country also presented a variety of edible items offered nationally.
A fascinating "Live Cooking Session" included a wide range of delicious millet-based dishes. The International Year of Millets celebrations and this event were coordinated.Ajay Chopra, Kunal Kapur, and Anahita Dhondy served as the executive chefs, and they were assisted by chefs Kusha and Nikita from the ITC Group.These five chefs created a "full course meal" in the designated "Live Cooking Area" with a concentration on millets. There were salads, entrees, side dishes, and desserts served during this lunch.
Each of the chefs—Chef Anahita, Chef Kunal, and Chef Ajay—was in charge of creating an appetiser, a main course, and a dessert. For instance, Chef Anahita made a puffed amaranth-topped Raw Banana Barnyard Millet Tikki. Chef Kunal prepared a delicious Jowar-Mushroom Khichda in the background. With a Millet Thekua and a Lemon Shrikhand Mille-feuille dessert, Chef Ajay concluded the multi-course millet extravaganza. A special culinary area of the exhibition honoured each country that took part in the event by displaying dishes made with millet from all of the G20 members.
Through the exhibits set up by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which showcased the most recent developments in precision agriculture, agricultural technology, and mechanisation improvements supporting sector growth, the exhibition also highlighted India's achievements in R&D. Each booth featured particular crop breakthroughs supported by government programmes. The path of the Basmati revolution, its contribution to the wealth of millions of Basmati farmers, and its status as a 5 billion USD foreign exchange earner were some of the important topics covered by some of the prominent booths.
In another booth, the claim that India is the "Land of Spices" was made, emphasising the wide variety, international renown, and potential of Indian spices. The nutritional and therapeutic value of mushrooms, their wide variety in India, and their potential for export were all discussed at a nearby stall. Among other fascinating ICAR exhibits, the honourable visitors also saw the sensor-based system that made it possible to monitor environmental conditions in real-time while transporting, storing, and ripening bananas.
Another significant element of the exhibition put together by the Ministry was the "Agriculture Street," which offered a fascinating journey through India's agricultural heritage and provided insight into both the country's lively history and future. Here, the Ministry brought together specialists, scientists, and farmers to provide a complete view on agricultural practises. For the spouses of G20 head of states, this street was made up of nine interactive stalls, each decorated with rustic accents. Here, they may learn about the various parts of agriculture, with a focus on millets in particular. It also emphasised India's efforts to improve food and nutritional security. The exhibitions of Lahri Bai, a young woman farmer from Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, who earned the nickname "Millet Queen" of India for conserving more than 150 indigenous seed kinds, including over 50 varieties of millet seeds, were one of the Agri Gully's standout features.
The G20 Spouses were given a gift basket as a show of appreciation following the event. The items in the hamper were chosen with care to reflect India's rich cultural and creative legacy. These items included handcrafted bell metal figurines made using an antiquated lost wax technique akin to the technique used to create the famous "Dancing Girl" artefact from the Harappan civilization (3300 BCE to 1300 BCE), handwoven stoles made from silk sourced from the Sal forests of Chhattisgarh, and a Cheriyal Painting.
The First Ladies and Spouses' understanding of India's agricultural development, notably millet growing, was enhanced by their visit. The first ladies and spouses were able to interact with the women farmers from the 10 states that produce millet, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Assam. These women farmers represent the grassroots changes taking place. Famous chefs prepared an extraordinary feast for the distinguished guests to highlight the versatility of millets and Indian cuisine, and Start-Ups and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) displayed their most recent technologies and goods, giving everyone present a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable experience.