Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India has become a food surplus country and is working to provide solutions for global food and nutrition security.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) being held in India after 65 years, the Prime Minister also said that the Union Budget 2024-25 focuses on sustainable agriculture.
Given that the last time the conference was held here, India had recently gained independence, and it was a challenging time for the country’s agriculture and food security.
“Now, India is a food surplus country,” he said, adding that the country is the number one producer of milk, pulses and spices in the world.
Also, the country has become the second largest producer of food grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar and tea.
“There was a time when India’s food security was a matter of concern for the world. Now, India is working to provide solutions for global food security and global nutrition security,” he said at the conference. Nearly 1,000 delegates from around 70 countries participated in the conference.
The triennial conference, organized by the International Association of Agricultural Economists, is being held from August 2 to 7.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Transition towards sustainable agri-food systems”. The Prime Minister also said India has provided 1,900 new climate-resilient varieties of crops in the last 10 years. He said that India is promoting chemical-free natural farming.
He said that the country is moving towards achieving the target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol. The conference will highlight India’s proactive approach to global agricultural challenges and showcase the country’s progress in agricultural research and policy.
The event will provide a platform for young researchers and leading professionals to present their work and network with global peers.
It aims to strengthen partnerships between research institutions and universities, influence policy making at both the national and global levels, and showcase India’s agricultural progress, including advances in digital agriculture and sustainable agri-food systems.
