NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) on Saturday, August 3. He highlighted India’s role in addressing global nutritional security challenges.
Speaking to delegates from around the world, PM Modi stated, “Just like water, or other resources, nutrition is also a challenge. India, which is the largest producer of millet, can provide the solution to the global challenge of food nutrition. Black rice, for instance, is now consumed globally as a superfood.”
Emphasizing the shift towards chemical-free natural farming, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to achieving a 20% ethanol blending target in petrol.
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He reiterated India’s vision for global welfare, referencing various initiatives including ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, ‘Mission LiFE’, and ‘One Earth, One Health’. Modi stressed that sustainable agriculture and food systems challenges can only be tackled through a holistic approach, stating, “Challenges before sustainable agriculture and food systems can only be tackled under the holistic approach of ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’.”
PM Modi expressed India’s readiness to share its millet resources with the world, noting that the previous year was celebrated as the International Year of Millets.
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“In India, even today we plan by keeping in mind the six seasons. We have 15 agricultural climatic zones—each with its specialities. If you travel just 100 kilometres, agricultural practices change. This diversity makes India a ray of hope for global food security. Today, India is a food surplus country and the largest producer of milk, spices, and lentils. While India’s food security was once a global concern, today India is finding solutions for global food and nutrition security,” he added.
The conference was attended by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, NITI Aayog Member Prof. Ramesh Chand, Conference President Prof. Matin Qaim, and Secretary of DARE and DG, ICAR, Dr Himanshu Pathak.