Following is the message from Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) on G20 MACS Meeting to be held on 17-19 April in Varanasi:

“Agriculture is the foundation of the civilization, culture and heritage of India. Indian Agriculture is unique, diversified and vast providing livelihood and income to more than half of our population. During the last 75 years, the country has marched from a ship-to-mouth to self-sufficient to a food exporting nation. It achieved science- and policy-backed agri-revolutions including Green, White, Blue, Yellow, Golden, Silver, Brown, Grey and rainbow revolutions, which transformed Indian agriculture. Food production increased by 6 to 70 times since 1950 with only 1.3 times increase in the net cultivated area.

The Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in G20 is instrumental in promoting joint action to put science-based solutions for achieving sustainable, resilient and profitable agri-food systems. It provides a good platform for discussion, deliberations and exchange of knowledge, science and technologies for food and nutrition security and strengthening cooperation among the G20 nations.

In consonance with India’s G20 Presidency theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, the Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) will pursue discussion on food and nutrition security, resilience to climate change, One Health approaches, digital agriculture, and public–private partnerships for research, education and extension.

The 12^th MACS meeting under India’s Presidency has identified the theme of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet. In this theme, there are four priority areas on which focused discussion will take place. The areas are, firstly Food Security and Nutrition – the role of frontiers in science and technology; secondly Building resilience and sustainable agriculture through approaches of climate resilient agriculture and One Health, thirdly Digitalization for Agricultural Transformation, and finally Public-Private Partnerships for Research and Development.

The meeting will feature the MAHARISHI Initiative i.e., Millets And OtHer Ancient Grains International ReSearcH Initiative. This International Initiative will focus on Research and Awareness wi agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition aligning with the International Year of Millets 2023.

In these areas, options will be explored of G20 countries coming together to help sharing science-based technological and innovative solutions.

The event will provide new opportunities of collaboration in research, education and extension in the field of agriculture and strengthen the G20 forum for international economic cooperation. I wish the event a success.”

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