Padma Shri Pappammal, a 107-year-old organic farmer from Thekambatti village in the Coimbatore region of Tamil Nadu, who attended the Global Millets (Shree Anna) conference in New Delhi, received tribute from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several attendees and participants at the Shree Anna meeting paid attention to the Prime Minister's gesture.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement during the Global Millets (Shree Anna) conference, which was held at Subramanian Hall in New Delhi on Saturday. The millet program will be implemented in 19 districts throughout the nation. Millets, which can be grown in challenging climatic circumstances and don't require artificial fertilizers, has been intensively promoted in India.
The Prime Minister spoke at the conference, highlighting the value of millet cultivation for small and marginal farmers and claiming that the Shree Anna scheme will significantly improve their economic situation and generate new job prospects. The Prime Minister also highlighted that millet growing is practiced by almost 2.5 crore farmers in India.
The international conference featured presentations on all the key issues relating to millets, including market connections, the growth of the millets value chain, research and development, and awareness and promotion of millets among farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders.
It is important to note that India has been working hard to encourage millet farming in the nation, and the United Nations has designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets. With the cooperation of more than 70 countries worldwide, India's efforts resulted in the adoption of this United Nations Resolution, which contributed to raising awareness of millet's importance in sustainable agriculture and its advantages as a smart superfood around the globe.
In honour of her efforts, renowned organic farmer Padma Shri Pappammal received the esteemed Padma Shri award in 2021. At the function in New Delhi, she welcomed the Prime Minister and extended a shawl; he accepted it with a bow and asked for her blessings.
