Amritsar Flower Show & Millets Utsav "Spring 2023" & National Seminar on World of Millets in the era of Climate Change on March 1-3, 2023

The Botanical and Environment Science Society, Post Graduate Department of Botany, Khalsa College Amritsar organized three days Amritsar Flower Show & Millets Utsav "Spring 2023".  A National Seminar on "World of Millets in the era of Climate Change" was also organized on the third day (March 3, 2023) of the programme. Dr. Mehal Singh, Principal Khalsa College Amritsar extended a warm welcome to the speakers and participants of the event and enlightened the students about the nutritional and health benefits of millets. Dr. Balwinder Singh Head, P.G. Deptt. of Botany gave an introduction about Indian government’s  initiative to celebrate 2023 as“ International year of Millets” and make it peoples’ movement so that the Indian millets, recipes, value added products are accepted globally. Dr. Rajbir Singh, organizing secretary of the event said that the millets requires 70% less water than rice, grows in half the time of wheat and requires 40% less energy in processing. They are hardy crops that can withstand extreme heat conditions. The keynote speaker Mr. Gurmukh Singh, a millet farmer associated with Kheti Virasat Mission had delivered a lecture on millets and highlighted their importance in the treatment of various ailments. He also discussed about the ecological reconstructing of Punjab through organic farming, sustainable conservation of environmental health, natural resources and agro-technologies. Mr. Gurmukh Singh further added that millets are a highly varied group of small seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Millets are a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. The potential benefits of millets include protecting cardiovascular health, preventing the onset of diabetes, maintaining body weight and managing inflammation in the gut. Millets are rich in niacin, which helps to mange more than 400 enzymatic reactions in our body. Millets can play important role in empowering small farmers, achieving sustainable development, eliminating hunger, promoting biodiversity, and transforming agri-food systems. Invited speaker Dr. Harnek Singh attracted the attention of the audience towards millets as super-foods. He discussed about different types of millets grown in India. Dr. Harnek Singh added that millet is a low glycemic index and non-acidic food. People with diabetes can better control their blood sugar level by consuming millets. He also discussed the role of millets in the prevention of dreadful diseases like colon, breast and liver cancer. More than 250 students from various colleges, institutions participated in the Amritsar flower show under different categories viz seasonal flowers, medicinal plants, rose varieties, foliage plants, succulents/cacti, indoor plants/ferns and bonsai. Students have also shown their creativity in poster presentation and explained the importance of medicinal plants, floriculture and landscaping. Students from different institutions participated in millet making recipes such as cake, idli, khichdi, chocolate, millet laddo, millet pakora, millet biscuits, millet shake, millet muffins and attracted the attention of audience. Dr. Madhu appreciated the efforts of Botanical and Environment Science Society members, faculty members and non-teaching staff on successful organization of event and encouraged students to share their talents and got familiarize with millets. Dr. Harjinder Singh, Dr. Prabhjit Kaur, Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Dr. Sushant Sharma, Dr. Maninder Kaur, Dr. Harsimran Kaur, Dr. Sonia Sharma Dr. Pardeep Kaur, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, non-teaching staff and students of the department were present in the event.