Tuesday, 30 May, 2023
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Role of millets in ensuring food security crucial

Says Pranay Verma during the celebration of International Year of Millets

  • Diplomatic Correspondent
  • 22 May, 2023 12:00 AM
  • Print news
Role of millets in ensuring food security crucial
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder and Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma visit an exhibition on ‘Food Security and Importance of Millets’ at the Indian Cultural Centre in the capital on Sunday. —SUN PHOTO

High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has highlighted the important role of millets in ensuring food security, popularising nutritional diet, promoting sustainable agriculture, and securing financial empowerment of farmers.

He noted that India and Bangladesh have immense scope to cooperate in the exchange of knowledge, sharing of best practices, and in the research and development initiatives related to millets.

The Indian envoy said this while inaugurating an exhibition on “Food Security and Importance of Millets” at the Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka on Sunday.

The exhibition is being organised as part of the events to celebrate the International Year of Millets 2023, reads a press release of the High Commission of India (HCI).

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder was the chief guest on the occasion while Robert D. Simpson, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangladesh was the special guest.

Renowned agricultural expert of Bangladesh Prof Mirza Hasannuzzaman, Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University, delivered the expert remarks as the guest speaker on the occasion.

Millets have been an integral part of diet for centuries. In addition to a plethora of health benefits, millets are also good for the environment with lower water and input requirement.

With the aim to create awareness, and to increase production and consumption of millets across the world, the United Nations, at the behest of the Government of India, declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder appreciated the initiative taken by the High Commission of India in organising the event.

He also highlighted the steps being taken by Bangladesh to transform its agricultural sector and to increase the production and consumption of millets.

Agricultural cooperation is an important component of India-Bangladesh partnership. Both India and Bangladesh can lead the way in harnessing the power of millets to build a brighter and more prosperous future for the two countries.