Special Event organized by India and co-hosted by Nigeria

“Building Momentum towards International Year of Millets 2023”

[22 March 2022]

Welcome Address by Ambassador T S Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

------

H.E. Amb. Prof. Tijjani Bande, Permanent Representative of Nigeria,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Participants,

Let me begin by welcoming everyone to today’s commemorative event on International Year of Millets 2023. A very special thanks for Amb. Professor Tijjani for co-hosting this event with us and for his constant support through the entire process. His presence is an indication of the fact that the International Year of Millets is of crucial importance not just to India and Nigeria but also to Asia, Africa and all other continents. I also thank our Ambassador Dr. Neena in Rome and her team for all the coordination towards the International Year of Millets and for this event.

A year ago, this month, the resolution entitled “International Year of Millets 2023”, submitted by Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Senegal and India was adopted by the UN General Assembly. We reiterate our gratitude to the Member States who initiated it and the 70+ co-sponsors of this resolution.

At Glasgow COP26, Prime Minister Modi proposed a One-Word Movement: LIFE which stands for means LIfestyle For Environment, a vision of a Resilient and Sustainable Lifestyle which will be useful in dealing with the Climate Crisis and future unpredictable challenges. It was proposed as a mass movement of Environmental Conscious Life Style that promoted Mindful, Sustainable and Deliberate Utilization. The International Year of Millets 2023 contributes to this vision.

The primary objective of the resolution was to raise awareness and direct policy action to the nutritional and health benefits of millets consumption and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions. The commemoration of International Year would draw focus for enhanced investments in R&D and extension services related to millets, thus contributing towards food security, nutrition, ensuring livelihoods, increasing incomes of farmers, poverty eradication and the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in regions that are drought prone or threatened by climate change.

I am delighted to have a distinguished line-up of speakers with us today. Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes Director General of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics; Dr. Jingyuan Xia, Director of Plant Production and Protection at FAO; Ms. Shubha Thakur from India’s Agriculture Ministry and Dr. B. Rajender, Alternate Permanent Representative of India to FAO, WFP and IFAD – thank you for accepting our invitation to speak with us. Like all of you, I am eager to listen to them.

I, once again, thank you all for joining us.

-----