Page 36 - NIS English 16-31 July,2023

Nation India's G-20 Presidency

G20 AGRICULTURE MINISTERS AGREE ON THE MAHARISHI
INITIATIVE AND DECCAN HIGH-LEVEL PRINCIPLES

he G-20 Agriculture Ministers meeting held in
Hyderabad from June 15 to 17 agreed on the
TMillets And Other Ancient Grains International
ResearcH Initiative., (MAHARISHI)' and 'Deccan High
Level Principles'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
addressed the Agriculture Ministers on June 16.
India's contribution to the agriculture sector called
for putting forward productivity-enhancing, cost-
effective solutions for the marginal farmers of the
South and urged them to adopt coarse cereals as
their food of choice.
The units of the Global Centre of Excellence (IIMR) on
Millets (Shree Anna) and eight varieties of Millets in their
field were shown to the G-20 Agriculture Ministers. As a
symbol of their collective commitment, the Agriculture
Ministers also planted coarse grain saplings. Click on
the link to read the conclusion and summary of the
meeting: https://www.g20.org/content/dam/gtwenty/
gtwenty_new/document/AMM-ODCS.pdf India's G20 priorities in the
The G-20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting discussed field of agriculture are focused
and adopted the Agriculture Working Group's outcome on healing our 'One Earth,
documents and conclusions. The Millets And Other
Ancient Grains International Research Initiative' "creating harmony within our'
(MAHARISHI), launched at the 12th Chief Agriculture One Family," and igniting hope
Scientists' Meeting in Varanasi, was unanimously for a brighter 'One Future."
approved at the G-20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting,
according to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra
Singh Tomar. This initiative by India aims to increase - Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
the cultivation and consumption of millets (Shree
Anna) and other traditional cereals in India and around
the world, which have high nutritional value and measures. India's farmers are also using technology
help to ensure food security. The member nations like drones to generate and harness solar energy in
also unanimously agreed on the 'Deccan High Level the fields to boost productivity, use soil health cards
Principles' during the meeting. These principles to optimise crop selection, and spray nutrients and
are landmarks in the promotion of sustainable and monitor their crops.
inclusive agricultural practises. For better soil health, crop health, and yield, the
On India's contribution in the field of Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the agriculture
agriculture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ministers to adopt appropriate agricultural
that India's policy is a mix of 'Back to Basics' and practises. Traditional practises from around the
'March to the Future'. Along with natural farming, world can serve as inspiration for us to develop
India is also promoting technology-enabled farming. alternatives to regenerative agriculture. He urged
Farmers across the country are now adopting them to arm farmers with innovation and digital
natural farming. The emphasis is also on protecting technology in order to empower them and develop
soil health, producing 'per drop, more crop, and affordable solutions for small and marginal farmers
promoting organic fertilisers and pest management in southern countries.

34 New India Samachar July 16-31, 2023