A programme was organised to launch the International Year of Millets 2023 and India-Nepal Agri Meet in the Capital on Thursday.

The meet was organised by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu in association with the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) also participated in the event.

In a statement the embassy said that it will continue to promote India-Nepal cooperation in agriculture and will promote millets through a variety of activities centered around the theme of the International Year of Millets 2023.

Dr Govind Prasad Sharma, Agriculture Development Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, led the Nepali side in the event.

Sharma, during the event, spoke about the importance millets hold in Nepal, and also identified the areas of bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.

Likewise, Dr Ram Krishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development, delivered a presentation on the “Millets Promotion Endeavours of the Government of Nepal and International Year of Millets 2023”.

Similarly, Shri Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy of India, highlighted the importance as well as potential of millets in ensuring food security for the world.

Dr Tarun Bajaj, Director of APEDA, elaborated on the export promotion and capacity building efforts by APEDA towards IYM 2023.