International Relations
Context: On the sidelines of G20 presidency, India is planning to propose the launch of a global initiative to encourage the consumption and production of millets.
About Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness (MIIRA):
- It aims to connect the millet research organisations across the world while also supporting research on millet crops.
- Secretariat: Delhi, India
- It is in line with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the Centre’s plan to make India a global hub for millets.
- 5 G20 meetings on agriculture:
- 3 of Agriculture Deputies,
- 1 of chief scientists, and
- 1 where the Agriculture Ministers of all G-20 countries will gather.
- It will be launched keeping in mind the nutritional value and the climate resilient nature of millets.
- It will set up a web platform to connect researchers and holding international research conferences.
- India will contribute the “seed money” while each G20 member will later have to contribute to its budget in the form of a membership fee.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Questions
Q.1) Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop? (2022)
- Sugarcane
- Sunflower
- Pearl millet
- Red gram
Q.2) With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:
- Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crops.
- Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
- In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2021)
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
