G20 Agriculture Ministers Meet

Table of Contents

Relevance

GS 3: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

Recently, Union Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar participated in G-20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting 2021 where he presented the progress of Indian agriculture.
Recently, he also participated in the BIMSTEC Agriculture Meet 2021.

The theme of the G20 agriculture meeting was “Working together to achieve the Zero Hunger goal: successful projects implemented by the Ministries of Agriculture”.

He emphasised on the steps taken by the Government of India in re-introducing the traditional food items including millet, other nutritious cereals, fruits and vegetables, fish, dairy and organic products in the diet of the people.
Their production has been phenomenal in India in recent years and India is becoming a destination country for healthy food items.
The United Nations has accepted the proposal of the Government of India and declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

The Indian agriculture sector remained unaffected even during the COVID pandemic.
Various initiatives of the Government of India have kept the Agri-market dynamic.
Agri-input supply chain during COVID have helped the agriculture sector perform better.
During the year 2020-2021, along with increase in the production of food grains, there has been a significant increase in exports.

Hunger Hotspots: A Report by FAO-WFP

Biofortified-varieties of various crops are the source of staple diet rich in micronutrients.
17 such varieties of different crops are being promoted to remove malnutrition.

The government has taken steps to increase the optimal use of water resources, create infrastructure for irrigation, conserve soil fertility with balanced use of fertilizers, and provide connectivity from farms to markets.

Technology in Agriculture: India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA)

He informed that under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN), the government is providing income support of Rs.6,000 per year to small farmers.
So far, Rs 1.58 lakh crore has been deposited in the bank accounts of more than 11.37 crore farmers under this scheme.

The ‘Per Drop- More Crop’ scheme for irrigation and ‘Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana’ for organic farming is being successfully implemented.

Transport and Marketing Assistance Revised

Unfavourable weather affects the production and income of the farmers, in such a situation, the Government of India has implemented the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to provide insurance cover for the farmers.

To address the malnutrition problem, India is running the world’s largest food-based safety net program, which includes the Public Distribution System and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
He iterated India’s resolve to continue working together to achieve the ‘Poverty Reduction’ and ‘Zero Hunger Goal’.

Agricultural Exports from India: Recent Performance, Challenges and Solutions