Myanmar delegation attends 9th Session of Governing Body of International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA)

A Myanmar delegation led by Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA) held in New Delhi of India at the invitation of Indian Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Mr Narendra Singh Tomar.
First, ITPGRFA Chairperson Ms Yasmina El-Bahloul and ITPGRFA Secretary Mr Kent Nnadozie from FAO made greeting speeches.
Then, Indian Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Mr Narendra Singh Tomar delivered an opening speech and the video message of Dr Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO was played.
The session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA) is held once every two years. Indian government hosted the 9th Session of the Governing Body of ITPGRFA under the theme of Celebrating the Guardians of Crop Diversity: Towards an Inclusive. Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and officials from 149 countries attended the event.
After the opening ceremony, the Myanmar delegation observed the displayed millet and sorghum, proper sorghum received after research, sorghum-based noodle and value-added food products and local fruit research of India, and discussed joint research projects. Year 2023 will be designated as the International Year of Millet.
At noon, Union Minister U Tin Htut Oo-led delegation met with the Indian officials led by Mr Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Indian Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and discussed bilateral relations in technical and research development activities, the invitation to the Indian government and private entrepreneurs in seed production industry of pulses and bean, sunflower and oil crops in Myanmar and cooperation work in crop production and distribution sectors.
Similarly, the Myanmar delegation discussed with Indian officials led by Mr Ashwani Kumar of National Seed Corporation (NSC) regarding the operation processes of NSC under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and cooperation work to launch research and seed production projects to ensure the good-quality seeds needed in expanding of beans and pulses, sunflower and oil crops plantation in Myanmar.
In the evening, the Myanmar delegation attended the dinner party and traditional variety show hosted by Indian Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Mr Narendra Singh Tomar together with the other participants from the meeting of ITPGRFA. — MNA