IAT Desk
The agriculture minister of Zambia Hon. Reuben Phiri Mtolo, MP, delivered an address at the recently concluded 2023 Global Millets Conference being held at Subramaniam Hall, PUSA in New Delhi, India.
In his address, Hon. Mtolo called for more research into the production of millets which he says is key in addressing global hunger as it can easily adapt to climatic conditions characterised by less rainfall.
Based on India’s proposal, the year 2023 was declared as the International Year of Millets (IYoM) by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated the Conference which was also attended by Ministers of Agriculture from Guyana, Sri Lanka, Gambia,Sudan, Mauritius, Nigeria and Suriname.
Hon. Mtolo was accompanied to India by Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) Director, Ivor Mukuka. Members of staff at the Zambia High Commission in India, led by Acting High Commissioner Deliwe Mumbi were also in attendance.