While the G20 Summit includes a full agenda for all of the world’s leaders, there is a separate schedule established for all of the first ladies and spouses of all G20 leaders to attend meetings on the sidelines. Their itinerary took them to IARI, where they were shown highlights of India’s progress, the empowerment of women, and Indian culture and traditions. From millet rangoli to live cooking sessions, here’s what they witnessed:
G20 Summit: Heads Of States’ Spouses’ Visit IARI Campus
Two of the first ladies and spouses of G20 leaders who visited the IARI campus here in the capital were the wives of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty, and World Bank President Ajay Banga, Ritu Banga. They were welcomed by Kyoko Jaishankar, the spouse of S Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs.
Up to 15 spouses of G20 leaders, including the wife of the Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, visited this 1,200-acre PUSA-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) campus to see the innovations in Indian agriculture and take part in a farm-to-fork millet experience.
At the exhibition, which featured handpicked millets from roughly 18 nations as well as India’s emerging startup environment and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), they were greeted by a large “millets-rangoli” display.
The exhibition also featured millet-based dishes from G20 participating countries. All these dishes honoured each country’s culinary heritage.
Female Farmers From Across India Were Invited
The spouses of G20 leaders also stopped by the “live millet cooking counter” at IARI. Here, celebrity chefs like Anahita Dhondy, Ajay Chopra, and Kunal Kapur cooked and served some of the best Indian cuisine, with special attention to millets.
15 #Agristartups presented cutting-edge tech answers to practical problems in the exhibition area.
The delegates also met Madhya Pradesh tribal farmer Lahari Bai during their hour-long tour, who has significantly helped preserve millets in her farm area. She is one of the female farmers who were invited to participate in this summit from small villages in India’s 11 millet-producing cities.
The head of the states’ spouses also observed hydroponic farming, vertical farming, and other forms of sustainable agriculture. IARI Director A K Singh mentioned that all the delegates took a keen interest in understanding and knowing the progress India is and will make in the field of agriculture.
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