G20: Millet feast, night out at Rock Garden of Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: The second agricultural deputies meeting (ADM) of Agriculture Working Group (AWG) under India's G20 Presidency commenced in the UT on Wednesday. On the first day, the 12th session of the rapid response forum of Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), an international body, was hosted here to address global food market related issues.

The session was flagged off with welcome remarks by Arun Kumar, senior economic and statistical adviser, Government of India. The meeting provided an update on the current food market situation and outlook; a review of recent developments of AMIS; an analysis of the impact of financial factors on importing countries; and an overview of Asia's role in regional and global food security.

The AMIS also elected the United States as its chair for a second consecutive term under the representation of Seth Meyer of US department of agriculture. AMIS chair doesn't follow the G20 presidency.

Fusion of bhangra & bajra

In the evening, a special Millet Food Festival was organised for the delegates from the 19 member nations, the European Union, 10 invitee countries and other international organisations, at the Rock Garden, in line with the celebrations of the International Year of Millets.

Upon their visit, they were first given a guided tour of the garden, in which local artisans depicted how waste is still used to make fresh sculptures and repair the old ones at the Rock Garden. A movie on the life of Nek Chand was also screened.

Later in the evening, the delegates enjoyed a variety of dishes made from millets while watching giddha, bhangra and other folk dances.

Many delegates also broke to the beats of dhols being played there.