42nd Session of FAO Conference | 16 Jun 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare addressed the 42nd session of Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Conference.

  • The Conference takes place every two years and is FAO's supreme governing body.
  • It determines the policies of the Organization, approves the budget, and makes recommendations to Members on food and agriculture issues.

Key Points

  • India’s Efforts for Food Security during the Covid-19 Pandemic:
    • High Production of Foodgrains: India registered an all-time high production of foodgrains at 305 million tonnes as well as in exports during 2020-21, contributing to global food security.
    • KISAN RAIL: It was introduced to transport the essential commodities including perishable horticulture produce, milk and dairy produce from the production centres to the large urban markets.
    • Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Under this scheme, free food grains were provided to 810 million beneficiaries and it has been further extended in which workers will be benefited till November, 2021.
    • PM Kisan Scheme: More than Rs.1,37,000 Crore have been sent to the bank accounts of over 100 million farmers under this to provide income support to the farmers.
  • Climate Change and Agricultural Schemes:
    • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): It was launched in 2015 to address the issues of water resources and provide a permanent solution that envisages Per Drop More Crop.
    • Green India Mission: It was launched in 2014 under the umbrella of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with the primary objective of protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover.
    • Soil Health Card (SHC): It was launched with the main objective of analysing cluster soil samples and advocating farmers regarding their land fertility status.
    • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): It was executed to extensively leverage adaptation of climate-smart practices and technologies in conjunction with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and state governments of India.
    • Rainfed Area Development (RAD): It focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variabilities.
    • Sub-mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF): It aims to encourage farmers to plant multi-purpose trees together with the agriculture crops for climate resilience and an additional source of income to the farmers, as well as enhanced feedstock to inter alia wood-based and herbal industry.
    • National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), to develop, demonstrate and disseminate the techniques to make agriculture resilient to adverse impacts of climate change.
    • Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): It is a Central Sector Scheme, a sub-mission under NMSA, aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode.
  • Other Steps Highlighted:

Food and Agriculture Organization

Source: PIB