๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐งternational ๐๐จ๐ง๐. ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฑ, ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก๐ข
PM inaugurates the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists Conference took place in India after 65 years, PM welcomed delegates on behalf of 120 million
farmers, more than 30 million women farmers, 30 million fishermen and 80 million livestock farmers
โIn the Indian agricultural tradition, priority has been given to science and logicโ
โIndia has a robust system of agriculture education and research based on its heritageโ
โIndia is a food surplus country todayโ
โThere was a time when Indiaโs food security was a global concern, today India is providing solutions for global food and nutrition securityโ
โIndia is committed to global welfare as a โVishwa Bandhuโโ
โChallenges before sustainable agriculture and food systems can only be tackled under the holistic approach of โOne Earth, One Family and One Futureโโ
โSmall farmers are the biggest strength of Indiaโs food securityโ
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) at National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex, New Delhi today. The theme for this year’s conference is, โTransformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.โ It aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts. Around 1,000 delegates from around 75 countries took part in the conference.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed delight that the International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) is taking place in India after 65 years. He welcomed all the dignitaries on behalf of 120 million farmers, more than 30 million women farmers, 30 million fishermen and 80 million animal keepers from India. โYou are in the land which is home to more than 500 million livestock. I welcome you to the agricultural and animal-loving country of Indiaโ, Shri Modi said.
The Prime Minister emphasized the longevity of ancient Indian beliefs and experiences about agriculture and food. He highlighted the priority given to science and logic in the Indian agriculture tradition. He mentioned the existence of whole science behind the medicinal properties of food.
The Prime Minister stressed that agriculture grew on the foundation of this thousands-year-old vision, mentioning โKrishi Parasharโ, an almost 2000-year-old treatise on agriculture based on this rich heritage. The Prime Minister pointed to a robust system of agriculture research and education in India. โICAR itself boasts of more than 100 research institutesโ, he said. He further informed that there are more than 500 colleges for agriculture education and more than 700 Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Highlighting the relevance of all six seasons in agricultural planning in India, the Prime Minister mentioned the distinct qualities of 15 agro-climatic zones. He noted that agricultural produce changes if one travels about a hundred kilometers in the country. โBe it farming on the land, the Himalayas, in the desert, water-scarce regions or coastal regions, this diversity is crucial for global food security and makes India a ray of hope in the worldโ, the Prime Minister remarked.
Recalling the last International Conference of Agricultural Economists that took place in India 65 years ago, the Prime Minister mentioned that India was a newly independent nation making it a challenging time for Indiaโs food security and agriculture. Today, the Prime Minister said, India is a food surplus country, the largest producer of milk, pulses and spices, and the second largest producer of food grain, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar, tea and farmed fish. He recalled the time when Indiaโs food security was a matter of concern for the world while today, India is providing solutions to global food and nutrition security. Therefore, the Prime Minister said that Indiaโs experience is valuable for discussions on food system transformation and is sure to benefit the global south.
PM Modi reiterated Indiaโs commitment to global welfare as a โVishwa Bandhuโ. He recalled Indiaโs vision for global welfare and mentioned various mantras put forward by India on various fora including โOne Earth, One Family and One Futureโ, โMission LiFEโ, and โOne Earth One Healthโ. Shri Modi underlined Indiaโs approach of not viewing the health of humans, plants and animals in silos. โChallenges before sustainable agriculture and food systems can only be tackled under the holistic approach of โOne Earth, One Family and One Futureโโ, he said.
โAgriculture is at the center of Indiaโs economic policiesโ, the Prime Minister underlined as he mentioned that the 90 percent of small farmers of India who own little land make for the biggest strength of Indiaโs food security. He pointed out that a similar situation is prevalent in several developing countries in Asia making Indiaโs model applicable. Giving the example of natural farming, the Prime Minister said that the positive results of promoting chemical-free natural farming on a large scale can be seen in the country. He also mentioned a big focus on sustainable and climate-resilient farming in this year’s budget as well as developing a complete ecosystem to support Indiaโs farmers. Highlighting the governmentโs emphasis on research and development related to climate-resilient crops, the Prime Minister informed that nearly nineteen hundred new climate-resilient varieties have been handed to the farmers in the last 10 years. He gave examples of rice varieties in India that require 25 percent less water than traditional varieties and the emergence of black rice as a superfood. โBlack rice from Manipur, Assam and Meghalaya is the preferred choice due to its medicinal valueโ, he said, adding that India is equally eager to share its related experiences with the world community.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the seriousness of the nutrition challenge along with water scarcity and climate change. He presented Shri Anna, Millet as a solution given the superfood’s quality of โminimum water and maximum productionโ. PM Modi expressed Indiaโs willingness to share Indiaโs millet basket with the world and mentioned the last year being celebrated as the International Year of Millets.
Mentioning the initiatives to link agriculture with modern technology the Prime Minister talked about Soil Health Card, solar farming leading to farmers turning into energy providers, Digital agriculture market i.e. e-Nam, Kisan Credit Card and PM Fasal Bima Yojana. He also touched upon the formalization of agriculture and the allied sectors ranging from traditional farmers to agri startups, from natural farming to farmstay and farm-to-table. He informed that in the last 10 years, ninety lakh hectares were brought under micro irrigation. As India is fast moving towards the goal of 20 percent blending of ethanol, he said, both agriculture and the environment are benefiting.
Throwing light on leveraging digital technology in the agriculture sector in India, the Prime Minister mentioned PM Kisan Samman Nidhi where money is transferred to the bank accounts of 10 crore farmers with a single click, and a digital public infrastructure for digital crop survey that provides real-time information to farmers and enables them to take data-driven decisions. He emphasized that crores of farmers will benefit from this initiative and improve their economic condition. He also touched upon a huge campaign for the digitization of land where farmers will be given a digital identification number for their land, and promotion of drones in farming where โdrone didisโ are trained to operate drones. He further added that these steps will not only benefit the farmers of India but also strengthen global food security.
Concluding the address, the Prime Minister noted the presence of a large number of young people and expressed confidence that the next five days will witness ways to connect the world with Sustainable Agri-Food Systems. โWe will learn from each other and also teach each otherโ, he concluded.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmersโ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Member of NITI Aayog, Prof Ramesh Chand, Conference President, Prof Matin Qaim and Secretary of DARE and DG, ICAR, Dr Himanshu Pathak were present on the occasion.
Backgroundย
The triennial conference organized by the International Association of Agricultural Economists is being held from 02 to 07 August 2024 and is taking place in India after 65 years.
The theme for this year’s conference is, “Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.” It aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts. The conference will highlight India’s proactive approach to global agricultural challenges and showcase the nation’s agricultural research and policy advancements.
The ICAE 2024 platform allows young researchers and leading professionals to present their work and network with global peers. It aims to strengthen partnerships between research institutes and universities, influence policymaking on both national and global scales, and showcase India’s agricultural progress, including advancements in digital agriculture and sustainable agri-food systems. The conference witnessed the participation of around 1,000 delegates from around 75 countries.
Prime Minister Modi addressed ICAE today themed โ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ข-๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฌโ -Aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts. Around 1,000 delegates from around 75 countries took part in the conference. Here are the highlights:
1. Emphasized the longevity and scientific basis of ancient Indian agricultural practices, mentioning the 2000-year-old treatise ‘Krishi Parashar’.
2. Highlighted India’s extensive agricultural research network with over 100 ICAR institutes, 500 agricultural colleges, and 700 Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
3. Discussed India’s 15 distinct agro-climatic zones and how this diversity supports global food security.
4. Recalled India’s transition from a food-insecure nation 65 years ago to a food-surplus country and a major global producer of various agricultural commodities.
5. Reiterated India’s vision for global welfare through mantras like โOne Earth, One Family and One Futureโ and stressed a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture and food systems.
6. Emphasized the importance of small farmers, who constitute 90% of India’s farming community, in ensuring food security and discussed the applicability of India’s agricultural model to other developing countries.
7. Mentioned the promotion of natural, chemical-free farming, climate-resilient crops, and sustainable agricultural practices, highlighting the development of 1900 new climate-resilient crop varieties.
8. Addressed the challenges of nutrition, water scarcity, and climate change, promoting millets (Shri Anna) as a solution due to their minimal water requirements and high production.
9. Discussed initiatives linking agriculture with modern technology, such as Soil Health Cards, e-Nam digital agriculture market, Kisan Credit Card, and PM Fasal Bima Yojana, and highlighted the promotion of micro-irrigation and ethanol blending.
10. Highlighted digital innovations like the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, digital crop surveys, land digitization, and the training of โdrone didisโ to operate drones, aiming to enhance farmers’ economic conditions and global food security.
source-ย Press Information Bureau (pib.gov.in)
