Celebrating The International Year Of Millets
Commemorating the celebration of the ‘International Year of Millets’, and the advances made in organic and natural farming techniques, Sri Sri Naisargik (SSN) will be teaming with University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, to host the International Conference on Millets and a Millet Expo from 9th to 11th of December 2023 at the Art of Living International Centre.
The conference and Expo will be inaugurated by Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr D K Shivakumar in the presence of his Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Also present at the Expo will be Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, Mr Cheluvarayaswamy and Mr S T Somashekar, MLA, Yeshvanthapura Constituency.
Espousing the cause of millets and the need to educate the general public on their health benefits, Millet man of India, Dr Khadar Vali who will be also speaking at the conference, says, “Millet consumption should be given primary importance and education is needed on their high health quotient. Rice and wheat are not our food but millet is. Millets can be grown anywhere, even where precipitation is low and they have higher genomic content.” He further adds, “Currently millet production forms merely 0.5 to 1.5 per cent of the total food grain production in the country. In fact, to mitigate global warming, the key solution is to switch to millets, away from rice and wheat, across the world.”
Detailed deliberations on millet
The conference aims to offer a platform to discuss and deliberate on the significance of millets in the daily diet, its unquestionable health benefits and climatic connect besides dipping into the history to trace its integral presence in the ancient culture and dietary fabric across the Indian sub-continent. Besides drawing attention to the astounding fitness benefits of a millet rich diet and the need to create awareness for greater incorporation, the conference also purports to dwell at length on natural farming techniques and the urgency to witness a shift towards it.
In tune with this, opportunities to breed novel nutri-cereal varieties will be identified along with scientific validation of organic and natural farming methods so as to make them accessible to the masses. The ultimate objective is to bring in food as well as nutritional security. The deliberations at the conference will also actively look at coming up with solutions and offering the same to policy makers, research organisations, government agencies as proposed recommendations.
Market link and backward integration
Besides creating awareness amongst the public, the conference also looks to promote organic farming amongst farmers and expanding the area under millet cultivation whereby the exercise will culminate in SSN becoming a key market link amongst traders, exporters and the farming community so as to start the backward integration that is vitally needed to promote millet consumption in a large way.
In keeping with these objectives, the conference will co-host a Millet Expo which will facilitate farmer-scientist interaction, the sale of millets, organic and natural farming produce, showcase processing machineries, provide the much sought after platform for buyer-seller meet as well as buyer-buyer meet. The Millet Expo will be inaugurated by Mr Cheluvarayaswamy in the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Wide spectrum of participation
The conference will have participation from a wide spectrum of work segments starting from academicians, scholars, researchers, professionals in the food and agricultural sector to scientific institutions, nutritionists, policy makers, entrepreneurial innovators and educational enthusiasts along with key participants involved in the cultivation, utilisation and promotion of millets in India.
Commending Sri Sri Naisargik on hosting the international conference on millets, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “Millets are very healthy and help to control blood sugar. It has high nutritional value and increases physical strength. In Karnataka, the millet Ragi is a staple diet. This conference on millets will help us to understand more about millets, the multiple varieties that are there as well as a millet rich cuisine.”
Reiterating the need to promote the consumption of millets extensively, Mr Ranganath Prasad, Chairman, Sri Sri Naisargik, stated, “The conference will serve as a fertile platform for all stakeholders to come together, deliberate, promote the consumption of millets. The conference looks to come up with solutions and influence research and policy decisions to further the cause of millets, both at the national and international level.”
Concurring, Mr Ravindra Desai, Head-Strategy and Market Advisory, Sri Sri Naisargik added “Creating a platform and marketplace for small and marginal farmers involves a multifaceted vision. It should encompass technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Integration, Financial Inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement. By combining these elements, a comprehensive platform is being developed to empower small and marginal farmers, providing them with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the evolving agricultural landscape”
The three-day event will witness participation from leading personalities of Karnataka, who will be lending their voice to promote the consumption of millets and espouse their immense health benefits in a daily diet.
