Regular Update
New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held an important meeting on Wednesday at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, with representatives of international and multilateral development organisations. The meeting was attended by officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), German agency GIZ and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The main aim of the meeting was to strengthen international cooperation in the agriculture sector, jointly work on long-term development plans, and find sustainable solutions to increase farmers’ income and improve their standard of living.
Addressing the meeting, Chouhan said that India has made significant progress in agriculture. He said that India, which once struggled with food shortages, is now a major exporter of several agricultural products. He added that international organisations have played an important role in supporting this progress.
The minister said that India has achieved food security and the government is now focusing on nutrition security and creating stable and long-term employment opportunities for farmers. He also said that India is ready to share its experiences and successful farming practices with other countries, while learning from good global ideas to further strengthen the agriculture sector.
During the discussions, representatives of the international organisations stressed the importance of inclusive farming, better market access for small and medium farmers, and empowerment of youth, women and farmer groups.
The meeting also discussed the use of technology and innovation in agriculture, digital farming, research and development, post-harvest infrastructure, climate-resilient crops, and sustainable use of natural resources. The need to increase private investment and financial support in the agriculture sector was also highlighted.
Chouhan thanked the representatives for their suggestions and expressed confidence that the discussions would help improve long-term agricultural policies and further strengthen international cooperation for the benefit of farmers.
