The G20 Agriculture Ministers agreed to cooperate in order to address the issues facing the agricultural industry and develop inclusive, sustainable food systems that put the welfare of marginal farmers first.
G20 Agriculture Meeting to prioritise marginal farmers
The G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting will be place from June 15–17, 2023, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged for the creation of sustainable and inclusive food systems that are centred on marginal farmers, according to a statement released on Saturday by the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare.
The adoption of the “Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary,” which marked a considerable consensus on many problems relating to the agriculture sector, marked the end of the meeting, which was witnessed by agriculture ministers from G20 nations.
During the conference, Prime Minister Modi sent a video message in which he emphasised the importance of the agricultural industry to human civilization. He asked the G20 Agriculture Ministers to address the issues facing the industry as a whole and work to create a better future for people.
Motive behind the meeting
PM Modi outlined four main areas for discussion at the meeting. First, to promote food security and nutrition, the encouragement of agricultural diversification and advancements in social security systems are needed. The adoption of a climate-smart strategy for sustainable agriculture production based on agricultural system models, as well as the funding of climate-friendly technologies.
In order to create diverse agriculture value chains and robust food systems, thirdly, infrastructure for marginal and small-scale farmers, women, and youth must be strengthened. And finally, the use of digital technology to transform agriculture with a focus on standardising platforms for agricultural data as digital public goods.
Additionally, PM Modi highlighted the fact that 2023 has been proclaimed as the International Year of Millets. He emphasised the potential of millets to give farmers sustainable livelihoods while fostering climate resilience, as well as their nutritional advantages. India reaffirmed its dedication to exchanging best practises, knowledge, and innovations concerning cereals and ancient grains.
PM Modi urged G20 members to look into agricultural practises that enhance the health of the soil, yields of crops, and promote the farmers by means of innovation and digital technology in light of the ongoing disruptions to the world supply chain brought on by the pandemic and exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and climate change.
The Heads of Delegations (HoDs) and ministers were welcomed to the plenary session by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar. Ramesh Chand, an NITI Aayog member, gave a presentation on “Global Food Security and Nutrition,” noting the difficulties the industry is now facing and outlining potential solutions.
The Voice of the Global South Summit 2023 was supposedly held in India in January, under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Agriculture Minister Tomar. The summit aimed to involve developing nations that weren’t represented in the G20 and get their opinions on the goals for development and what they expected from India’s chairmanship.
The G20 members thanked India for its contributions and praised its efforts to advance the agriculture agenda. The Deccan high-level principles and the global millets and other traditional grains research programme, which increase global food security and support sustainable agriculture, were adopted as a result of the meeting.
The G20 Agriculture Ministers agreed to cooperate in order to address the issues facing the agricultural industry and develop inclusive, sustainable food systems that put the welfare of marginal farmers first.
