Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting to deliberate on how to undertake collective action for achieving global food security amid several challenges that the agricultural sector is encountering globally.
In a video message to the three-day meeting underway in Hyderabad, Modi said climate change is causing extreme weather events more frequently, and these challenges are felt most by the global South.
The three-day event, starting from 15-17 June 2023, will be attended by more than 200 delegates from G20 member countries, invited countries and international organizations.
"Globally, agriculture provides livelihood for over 2.5 billion people. In the global South, agriculture accounts for almost 30 per cent of the GDP and over 60 per cent of jobs and today this sector faces several challenges. The supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic has been worsened by the impact of geopolitical tensions," the Prime Minister said.
"Climate change is causing extreme weather events, more and more frequently. These challenges are felt most by the global South," Modi added.
He said India's policy is the fusion of "back to basics and march to future" even as the country is promoting natural farming as well as technology-enabled agriculture.
Modi further said farmers all over the country are taking up natural farming by not using synthetic fertilisers or pesticides with a focus on rejuvenating mother Earth.
The second day of the meeting will begin with the Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, welcoming the ministers and other heads of the Delegation participating in the G20 meeting. The ministerial engagements on the day will include discussions on “Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security and Nutrition” and high-level ministerial discussion on women-led agriculture, sustainable biodiversity, and climate solutions, in three parallel sessions.
The third day of the Ministers’ meeting will conclude with the adoption of the outcomes of the Agriculture Working Group, G20, Indian Presidency. The delegation will then proceed for a technical excursion to ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad.
