The two-day Nutri-Cereal Multi Stakeholders’ Mega Convention 3.0 organised by the ICAR- Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN and the Union Ministry of Agriculture, GoI concluded here on Saturday.
Speaking on the concluding session, Mr. Tomio Shichri, FAO representative in India has congratulated ICAR-IIMR for conducting the mega convention for run up to the international year of millets 2023. He has ensured full support of FAO for improving nutritional status and diversification of diet with millets. He reiterated that the main areas for improvement are to create awareness of health benefits of millets to inspire all stakeholders to enhance the production and productivity of millets to increase availability and to promote investment in infrastructure for facilitation of value chain development.
On the occasion, Mrs Amala Akkineni shared her interest for millets consumption suggested by Dr. Bharath Reddy. She said that she was very happy to shift to millet-based diet which helped in keeping energy levels high through out day and to eliminate anger in day to day to activities. Ms. Amala and Mr. Nagurjuna are now growing millets for their consumption and are very happy to promote millets for better diets of Indians.
The second day of the convention was focussed on opportunities for start-ups, Agri-incubators in India and funding avenues. A number of start-ups shared their experience for bringing millets to market and reaching the public. The role of accelerators in Agri tech revolution is presented. A special session for Telangana Start-up eco system was conducted. The two-day deliberations ended with a award ceremony under different categories.
Life time achievement awards are conferred on five people are Drs.Rana, Raj Bhandari, N.G. Malleshi, Mahab S Bamji and chef Manjith Singh Gill. Poshak anaj awrds are conferred for the best achievement under 11 different categories to start ups on millets. Consolation awards are conferred on 17 start-ups in millet for their contribution. Special felicitation is conferred on Drs Vilas A. Tonapi, Joanna Kane-Potaka and Chindi Vasudevsappa for their contribution to millets research.
The objective of this event was to prepare blue print of series of events planned to celebrate the “International Year of Millets, 2023” as declared by the United Nations. Delegates from several states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu attended the event.