PM Modi hails Food & Agriculture Organization for ensuring food security across globe

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Prime Minister said, farmers in the country are an important pillar in the government’s endeavour towards food revolution. He said, the farmers played a significant role in maintenance of a robust food supply chain in the country even during the tough times of Corona virus pandemic. Mr. Modi said, the commemorative coin launched today marks the respect of 130 crore Indians towards the pivotal role played by FAO to mitigate the effects of malnutrition.

The Prime Minister said  FAO, over the years, helped  increase agricultural production and eradicate hunger all over the world. He said this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the World Food Programme is also a major achievement for the FAO.

He said, the government initiated a multi-dimensional approach to address the issue of malnutrition in the country. Mr. Modi said, where on one hand emphasis was laid on increasing the quotient of nutritious food for children and mothers, on the other special initiatives were taken to enhance sanitization and hygiene standards. Drinking water through Jal Jeevan Mission, construction of 11 crore toilets, Immunization under Indradhanush Mission, availability of one rupee sanitary pads and focus on girl education were pushed to bring holistic well-being for everyone in the country.

The Prime Minister said, till 2014 only one variety of seed was made available to the farmers, however, the government has in the last 6 years introduced 45 new varieties of seeds in the country. He said, even when the world was reeling under the corona pandemic, the government reached out to the people in the country and ensured availability of nutritious food to over 80 crore people.

Mr Modi said, till 2014 only 11 states in the country had implemented the food security act. The current government, he said, has implemented it for all the States and Union Territories. He said, India is incessantly undertaking necessary reforms to promote global food security. Lauding the new agriculture related acts, he said, they will fortify the Mandis and also the farmers in the country.

He said, the APMC mandis are being enabled to be competitive by the government. Prime Minister said, a large network of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are also being created to bring revolutionary changes in the life of small farmers. He said, the new legislations will ensure that middlemen will have no role in the sale of farm produce in the markets. He said, the farmers will also be assured of good returns for their produce due to these new provisions.

Mr. Modi asserted that these new provisions give liberty to the farmers to terminate the contract anytime they want. He also reassured that the contracts made under the new provisions will pertain only to the farm produce and in no way jeopardise the land of the farmers. Prime Minister also thanked the FAO for declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets and said that the declaration will further help small farmers. He said, the government has incentivised cultivation of crops which are nutrient rich and also ensure good yields to the farmers.

The programme was also attended by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, senior officials of FAO and other Ministries. It was witnessed by Anganwadis, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Organic and Horticulture Missions across the country.