Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) in New Delhi. At the event, the Prime Minister offered solutions for the lack of global nutritional security and said India's diversity makes it a ray of hope for the food security of the world. The triennial event, organized by the International Association of Agricultural Economists, will run from August 2 to 7, 2024, and marks its return to India after 65 years.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, PM Narendra Modi said, "I am happy that after 65 years, such a conference is being organised in India. You all are here from different countries of the world. I welcome you on behalf of - 120 million farmers of India, more than 30 million women farmers of India, 30 million fishermen of the country... Today, you are in a country where 550 million animals live. You all are welcome in this agriculture-dominated and animal-loving country."
The Prime Minister highlighted that Indian traditions and experiences about food and agriculture are as ancient as the country. He said that in the agricultural tradition of India, science and logic are given priority.
"We have the Ayurvedic science of consuming food with medicinal effects. It has been a part of our Indian society... Almost 2000 years back, a Granth namely 'Krishi Parashar' was written, it's a heritage for human history," PM Modi said.
"In India, even today we plan by keeping in mind the six seasons. We have 15 agricultural climatic zones - all have their own speciality. If you travel some 100 kms here, agriculture practice changes. This diversity makes India a ray of hope for the food security of the world... Today, India is a food surplus country which is the biggest producer of milk, spices and lentils...At a point in time, India's food security was a global concern, today India is finding solutions for the global food and nutrition security," he added.
The theme of the six-day conference is Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.
The conference, which is witnessing the participation of around 1,000 delegates from around 75 countries, aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts.
The conference will highlight India's proactive approach to global agricultural challenges and showcase the nation's advancements in agricultural research and policy, said an official statement.
The ICAE 2024 will serve as a platform for young researchers and leading professionals to present their work and network with global peers.
"It aims to strengthen partnerships between research institutes and universities, influence policy-making on both national and global scales, and showcase India's agricultural progress, including advancements in digital agriculture and sustainable agri-food systems," the statement said.