G20 first spouses see breakthroughs in Indian agriculture at IARI, enjoy farm-to-fork millet experience
G20 leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's wife, Yoko Kishida, on Saturday visited the 1,200-acre PUSA-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) campus here — the seat of India's Green Revolution — and saw the breakthroughs in Indian agriculture and enjoyed the farm-to-fork millet experience. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty and World Bank President Ajay Banga's wife Ritu Banga were among the delegation of first ladies and spouses of G20 leaders who visited the IARI campus here in the national capital.
They were received by Kyoko Jaishankar, the wife of India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
They were welcomed by a grand «millets-rangoli» at the exhibition that showcased the curated millets from 18-odd countries, and the burgeoning startup ecosystem and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in India.
«At the exhibition area, 15 #Agristartups showcased innovative tech solutions to address ground-level challenges. #FPOs from across the nation displayed edible products marketed nationwide, aligning with the theme 'Empowering Rural Prosperity through Collective #Agriculture,» the agriculture ministry posted on social media platform X.
The exhibition, which was organized by the ministry, showcased India's agricultural excellence, featuring farmers, cutting-edge agri-technology and celebrity chefs, it said.
During an hour-long visit, the delegates also met women tribal farmer Lahari Bai from Madhya Pradesh who has made a significant contribution in conservation of millets in her farm field.
They also saw vertical farming, hydroponic farming and other sustainable agriculture methods.
Lahari Bai is among 20 women farmers from remote villages who shared their experiences and wisdom
