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Food supply

India Celebrates 80 Years of Partnership with FAO in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As India commemorated the 80th anniversary of its partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the country's journey from food scarcity to self-sufficiency was illuminated. The event, held in New Delhi, highlighted India's remarkable achievements in food security and sustainable agriculture, with Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, acknowledging FAO's enduring technical support and collaboration over the decades. India's leadership in food security was underscored, with the country's transformation from a food-deficient nation to a food-surplus nation that feeds 1.4 billion people. The celebration emphasized the need for a future focus on nutrition-sensitive farming and deepened international cooperation to address global food security challenges.

Key Takeaways:

  • India has achieved self-sufficiency in food grains through a combination of production systems, efficient delivery mechanisms, and progressive policies, according to Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
  • Despite holding less than four percent of the world's agricultural land and freshwater resources, India has maintained food self-sufficiency and price stability through mechanisms such as public stockholding and Minimum Support Price (MSP).
  • The National Food Security Act ensures affordable food access for over 800 million people, reflecting India's rights-based approach to food security.
  • Targeted interventions for small and marginal farmers, such as stress-tolerant seeds, concessional credit, crop insurance, and climate-smart practices, have enhanced productivity and resilience.
  • India has launched national initiatives in micro-irrigation, integrated and natural farming, organic agriculture, and digital public infrastructure like AgriStack, which provides farmers with access to real-time data and technological tools.
  • FAO's coffee table book Sowing Hope, Harvesting Success, chronicles 80 years of agricultural collaboration between FAO and India.
  • The UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp, praised India's journey as "the story of India's rise as a global agricultural leader".
  • FAO Representative in India, Takayuki Hagiwara, reaffirmed FAO's commitment to supporting India's vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Statistics:

  • India feeds 1.4 billion people and contributes significantly to global food security.
  • Over 800 million people have access to affordable food through India's National Food Security Act.
  • 146 million small and marginal farmers are the backbone of India's agricultural progress.
  • India maintains food self-sufficiency and price stability despite holding less than four percent of the world's agricultural land and freshwater resources.
  • 80 years of partnership between India and FAO have transformed India from a food-deficient nation to a food-surplus nation.

Sources:

  • Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
  • Government of India
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  • Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India
  • Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India

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