Small farmers are the greatest asset to India's food security: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi centre) along with other dignitaries at the inauguration of the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists ICAE) at National Agricultural Science Centre NASC) Complex, in New Delhi on August 3, 2024.

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At the opening ceremony of the 6-day International Association of Agricultural Economists' (IAAE) triennial conference, held from August 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Global South would profit much from discussions centred on 'changing the food system'. "There is a 65-year gap since the last time India hosted this conference. India is now a food surplus country, second only to China in terms of grain production, fruits and vegetables, cotton, sugar, tea, and farmed fish. This is in stark contrast to the newly independent nation that faced challenges ensuring food security 65 years ago", remarked the Prime Minister.

PM Modi reiterated India's dedication to global welfare by saying that India does not separate the well-being of people, plants, and animals. Small farmers are the greatest asset to India's food security, according to the Prime Minister, who also stated that agriculture is at the core of India's economic plans. He asserted that the country has already reaped the benefits of widespread promotion of chemical-free natural farming. He informed the global gathering of agricultural scientists that over the past decade, India had distributed 1,900 new varieties of seeds that are more resistant to climate change to farmers. Additionally, he discussed the use of drones in farming and "a huge campaign" to digitise land, wherein farmers will be assigned a digital identifier for their property.

Dignitaries at the Conference

Among those in attendance were Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, NITI Aayog Member Prof Ramesh Chand, President Elect, IAAE, Dr Matin Qaim, and the Director-General of Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr Himanshu Pathak. "Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems" refers to the conference's overarching theme for the occasion.