Union agri minister addresses 6th meeting of the Agriculture Ministers of SCO Member States
The 6th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held recently. Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said that the Government of India has been taking several steps to develop innovative technologies and their dissemination from lab to land to empower rural youth, farmers and farm women.
The Minister in the meeting organised virtually in Dushanbe, Tajikstan stated that the agriculture sector in India performed well even during the severe COVID-19 pandemic. Along with food production, exports have also registered significant growth, contributing to global food security.
Speaking on the occasion, Tomar mentioned that the government is determined to attain sustainable development goals to end hunger, achieve food security and nutrition. He further emphasised that the bio-fortified varieties are a source of staple diets, rich in micronutrients and are being promoted to address the aspects of malnutrition in the country. Further, he expressed that the government with the goal to double farmer’s income by 2022 has launched several programmes to enhance optimal utilisation of water resources, create new infrastructure for irrigation, conserves soil fertility with balanced use of fertilisers, provide connectivity from farm to market, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) linkage besides building infrastructure, organic farming etc.
Tomar mentioned that India has achieved several milestones towards success in the agriculture sector. Besides the Green Revolution, the White Revolution, Blue Revolution, the Public Distribution System and the price support system for farmers are unparallel in the world. It was the result of the vision of policymakers, ingenuity of our agricultural scientists and the hard work of our farmers that India became not only self-sufficient but a surplus in food grains.
The Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan, Ziyozoda Sulaymon Rizoi, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Tang Renjian, Secretary-General, SCO, Norov Vladimir Imamovich, Director-General, FAO, Qu Dongyu and Chairman of the Food Security Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Fayzullozoda Muhammadsaid Ubaydullo and others respective members attended the meeting. The Indian delegation led by Tomar included the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje and senior officials.
