NEW DELHI, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Thursday that millet has become increasingly important for food security against the backdrop of COVID-19, climate change and conflicts.
Jaishankar made the comments at the pre-launch of India's celebration of "International Year of Millets 2023" in New Delhi.
"Millets have increasing relevance in the world today in the backdrop of COVID-19, climate change and conflicts," he said during the event hosted jointly by the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare and the ministry of foreign affairs.
Jaishankar stressed that millet was important for food security and international relations.
"COVID-19 was a period that reminded the world what a pandemic could do to food security," he said.
According to Jaishankar, climate change can lower production and disrupt trade, and in international relations much greater attention ought to be given to food security.
Indian Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the International Year of Millets will provide an opportunity to increase global production, efficient processing and the better use of crop rotation and promote millet as a major component of the food basket.
"Through this, our aim is to increase the domestic and global consumption of millet," said Tomar. "The ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare is working in mission mode to increase millet production and consumption in collaboration with other central (federal) ministries, all state governments and other stakeholder organizations."
About 100 high commissioners and ambassadors based in New Delhi and senior officials of both ministries took part in the event. ■
