Keeping symmetry
with central theme of World Food Day, the Minister for Agriculture, Sh. Radha
Mohan Singh has called for more investment in family farms to channel
affordable credit and sustainability especially to combat impact of climate
change. The theme selected for this year’s World Food Day is Family Farming:
“Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth”. According to the UN Food
and Agriculture Organization’s website:
“The 2014 World Food Day theme – Family
Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” – has been chosen to raise
the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers. It focuses world
attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and
poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing
natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable
development, in particular in rural areas.”
In his message, on the eve of World
Food Day, Sh. Radha Mohan Singh has said that family farming is inextricably
linked to ensuring national and global food security and is the pre-dominant
form of agriculture in both developed and developing countries.
Notably, every year 16th October is
observed as World Food Day to mark the founding of the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). The intention of observing this
Day is to raise public awareness about the plight of the hungry and
malnourished people all over the world and initiate comprehensive action to
tackle and mitigate the menace of malnutrition and hunger.
Underlining the importance of family
farmers in the growth of agriculture, Sh. Radha Mohan Singh said family farmers
despite less access to productive resources efficiently manage their
agriculture and record high productivity. Family farmers have not only
preserved traditional food products but have also contributed to produce a
balanced diet and safeguard the world’s agro-biodiversity and sustainable use
of natural resources. India has consistently supported small farm holders which
have played a very dominant role in steady growth of agriculture, he added.
The Minister has said almost 200
million hectares of gross cropped area is cultivated by small farm holders to
help the country in achieving macro food security. In order to realise the full
potential of family farmers in eradicating hunger and malnutrition and ensuring
food security, Government of India has put in place an extensive research
system involving national and state level institutions beside agriculture
universities. Extension workers and cooperative societies help in educating
farmers and providing inputs such as credit, seed, fertiliser etc. to family
farmers.
The Agriculture Minister has said that
on the World food Day, all of us should resolve to strengthen family farmers
keeping in view their contribution to Indian Agriculture and to ensure food
security.
