9th meeting of ITPGRFA: Myanmar delegation attended the meeting hosted by India

By the invitation of the minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare of India Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar, Myanmar delegation led by the Union Minister U Tin Htut Oo for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation attended the opening ceremony of 9th meeting of the government body of The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) held in New Delhi, capital city of India on September 19.

At the meeting, chair of ITPGRFA Ms. Yasmina El-Bahloul and ITPGRFA secretary Mr. Kent Nnadozie from FAO extended words of greetings. Next, the minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare of India Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar delivered an opening remark and the video message sent by the director general of FAO Dr. QU Dongyu was viewed.

The meeting of the government body of The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) is held biannually and this 9th meeting is hosted by India under the theme of “celebrating the Guardians of Crop Diversity: Towards an Inclusive.

Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework” and attended by the officials from 149 member countries. After the opening ceremony of 9th meeting of ITPGRFA governing body, Myanmar delegation views the verities of millet which are the India’s local specie, strains of great millet, strains of great millet modified through research, the noodles producing based the grains of local variety and value-added food products industries, and the research works of the fruits of India’s local strains displayed at the exhibition booths, discussed with the responsible persons of the exhibition for the cooperation between the two countries in the research works.

The variety of millet have the climate resistance, those can thrive in the drought regions. As those are beneficial for health, 2023 is designated as the International Year of Millet.

In the afternoon, the Union Minister U Tin Htut Oo accompanied by Myanmar Ambassador to India U Moe Kyaw Aung and director general Dr. Ye Tint Tun of the Department of Agriculture met with the Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar and members and discussed the matters on cooperation between the two countries in the technology and development for research works, participation of the government and private organizations of India in the investment for the seed production of beans and pulses and oil crop sunflower which will be implemented in Myanmar and the collaboration in the fruit producing and selling.

Similarly, the Myanmar delegation led by the union minister also met with Mr. ASHWANI KUMAR and members of National Seed Corporation (NSC) of India and discussed the implementation of seed production and distribution with the state-owned business corporation model under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and the cooperation between the two countries in the research and seed production for the adequate use of quality seeds required for the expansion of beans and pulses, sunflower and addible oil crops.

In the evening, the Myanmar delegation led by the Union Minister together with the attendees to the meeting of ITPGRFA governing body attended dinner hosted by Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar and the cultural variety dance show, it’s learnt.