India's 100th G20 meeting held in Varanasi

Lucknow: India on Monday hosted the Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi, making it the 100th G20 meeting in the country.

The three-day meeting, which began on Monday, was inaugurated by Union Minister VK Singh.

Six meetings are scheduled to take place in Varanasi where representatives of 20 powerful countries will discuss nutrition-rich foods, food security and climate-friendly farming, giving the message of a healthy world, according to an official release.

Addressing the opening ceremony, VK Singh said that the G-20 summit is being held in India this year due to the efforts of the Government of India.

“Among the meetings to be held before the conference, the important meeting of the Agriculture Working Group has started in Varanasi today. It is noteworthy that on the call of the Prime Minister, the United Nations declared the year 2023 as Miletus Year. So, the delegates will emphasize the inclusion of coarse grains (millets) in our main food during the three-day meeting”, he remarked.

He added that the delegations are not only being introduced to the taste of millets but are also being taken to meet farmers and interact with startups.

“The global market for millets was $470 million and it is estimated that by 2026, its gross annual growth rate will increase by 4.5 per cent,” Singh said.

In view of these facts, it is likely that now the consumption of coarse grains will increase in India as well as in the world.

This will not only create new jobs in India but also in other parts of the world, increase farmers’ income and ensure food-nutritional security.

On Tuesday, delegates will discuss digital agriculture and sustainable agricultural value chains, and public-private partnerships in agricultural research and development, and discuss this in the G20 communique by the MACS communique.

About 80 delegates from G-20 member countries, i.e Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA and Apart from the European Union, invited guest countries to include Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, UAE, Vietnam and international organizations such as United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation, International Labor Organisation, FSB, OECD, Chairpersons of regional organizations AU, AUDA-NEPAD, ASEAN and special invitees by India i.e. International Solar Alliance, CDR and Asian Development Bank are participating in this three-day meeting.

In view of the G-20 meeting in Varanasi, the Yogi government has made elaborate security and other arrangements for delegates from different countries.

The entire city and the Ganga Ghats have also been beautifully decorated for the occasion.

With inputs from agencies

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