FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMMES
2024 Budget: Transforming India's agriculture for climate resilience and food security
Budget: The 2024 budget presents a chance to sow the seeds of a transformed agricultural sector - resilient, sustainable, empowered. By embracing innovation, investing in the future and placing the farmer at the heart of the equation, India can cultivate a productive agricultural landscape that supports its people and the world's.
SCO fosters regional stability & multilateral coop: Kazakhstan
The SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, represents a significant event for over 3 billion people. Kazakhstan, as a founding member, prioritizes the SCO's development within its balanced foreign policy. Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko emphasized the summit's role in mutual respect and consensus-building. Under Kazakhstan's presidency, over 150 events focused on energy, digitalization, and environmental protection. President Tokayev's "World Unity for Just Peace and Harmony" initiative highlights Kazakhstan's influence. Kazakhstan's strategic location, rich resources, and strong economic growth make it a key player in global diplomacy and trade.
Climate-proofing India's daily bread: The race for resilient wheat
Satveer Singh's family relies on a sack of wheat flour to stave off hunger. They barely manage, aided by government rations, despite irregular supply. Extreme weather has slashed India's wheat production, forcing the government to cut rations and halt exports. Efforts are underway to develop climate-resilient wheat varieties, crucial for food security.
Climate-proofing India's daily bread: The race for resilient wheat
Climate change impacts - including harsher heat, drought and floods - pose a major emerging threat to food security in India and elsewhere, accelerating diverse efforts to introduce crops that are better able to withstand shifting conditions.
Consumer firms plan IPO; startups on poll mandate
India's public market will see about a dozen consumer companies make a debut on the bourses. More on this in today's ETtech Top 5.
Indian fertilizer industry on track to reach Rs 1.38 lakh cr by 2032 amidst robust growth and strategic innovations
In 2023, the Indian fertilizer market size stood at Rs 94,210 crore, driven by increased agricultural demands and strategic governmental interventions.
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Food delivery cos bet on existing users; Infosys CEO interview
Happy Tuesday! With user growth stagnating, Zomato and Swiggy are prodding existing customers to order more. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Wheat procurement crosses last year's figure, comfortable to meet demand: Food ministry
Wheat procurement for the 2024-25 Rabi marketing season progresses smoothly, surpassing last year's total with 262.48 lakh tonnes acquired, benefiting 22.31 lakh farmers. Major states contributing include Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. Rice procurement from the previous Kharif season also proceeds well, ensuring ample stock for welfare programs. Monsoon forecasts remain pivotal for agricultural planning.
Manipur's proactive initiatives to rebuilding lives and communities affected by the conflict
State Government of Manipur initiates diverse relief efforts, including skill training in hospitality and healthcare restoration for ethnic conflict victims. Emphasis on long-term solutions to foster societal well-being and economic growth in the region.
UN chief: limited, 'sometimes nil' improvement from Israel action on Gaza aid
The United Nations has long complained of obstacles to getting aid in and distributing it throughout Gaza during the six-month-old war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the enclave of 2.3 million people. "To avert imminent famine, and further preventable deaths from disease, we need a quantum leap in humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Food is essential; so are clean water, sanitation, and healthcare," Guterres told the Security Council.
India uses peace clause fifth time, for rice subsidies given in 2022
India invoked the peace clause for exceeding the 10% support ceiling for rice farmers, breaching WTO subsidy ceilings with $52.8B rice production and $6.39B subsidies, surpassing the 10% de minimis limit.
Centre to increase wheat procurement from Bihar, Rajasthan UP drastically
The Indian government plans to increase wheat procurement from Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to 50 LMT in Rabi Marketing Season 2024-25, aiming to meet its procurement target of 310 LMT and restore wheat allocation in various food security programs. The government has identified 59 districts for procurement, increased the number of procurement centres from 10,366 to 12,253, and increased the number of registered farmers from 2.22 lakh to 3.58 lakhs in RMS 2024-25.
Experienced hunger for 120 hours while hitchhiking in Europe 50 years ago: Infosys founder Narayana Murthy
N R Narayana Murthy shared his 120-hour hunger experience while hitchhiking in Europe at a UN event focusing on food security, India's achievements, and Akshaya Patra's innovative strategies for aligning with Sustainable Development Goals.
Over 783 million people are faced with chronic hunger, but the world still wastes 19% of its food: UN
The U.N. Environment Programme's Food Waste Index Report reveals that the world wasted an estimated 1.05 billion metric tons of food in 2022, equivalent to about 19% of global production. The report highlights the environmental impact of food waste, including its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. It also emphasizes the need for global cooperation to address this issue, with initiatives focusing on public-private partnerships and food redistribution programs.
Unhappy meal: In quest for food security, India is losing focus on quality
The Green Revolution helped the country graduate from an importer to an exporter of many crops. But experts warn that nutrition security isn't getting adequate attention.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha, civil society call for permanent solution, safeguards at WTO
“We are extremely concerned about what is happening on agriculture at MC13. Crucial issues that are mandated by earlier ministerial conferences have been completely blocked by developed countries and farm exporting countries,” said Samyukta Kisan Morcha (NP).
WTO MC13: G33 calls for permanent solution for food security
India also highlighted that a Special Safeguard Mechanism was another mandated issue on which the MC13 had to deliver, without linking it to market access. G33 said it was ready to consider the submission by the African Group which covers most of the interests of developing country members in a fair and balanced manner, and engage in enhanced technical discussions.
ET Explainer: Decoding India's primary demands at WTO ministerial
It is a policy tool used by governments to purchase, stockpile and distribute food when needed and hence, crucial for food security. India procures crops like rice and wheat from farmers at minimum support price, and stores and distributes foodgrain to the poor. Through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, it offers affordable rice and wheat to more than 800 million people.
Not just green, white & blue too: Budget proposal on increasing output of oilseeds, milk & aquaculture products to help India reduce dependence on imports
The Union Cabinet has approved continuation of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) under Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) with an outlay of ₹29,610.25 crore till 2025-26. India's aquaculture exports in 2023-24 were flat, after having grown in double digits during the last decade. Industry players say that focus on increasing productivity at the farm level will help improve its global competitiveness by reducing cost of production.
Consensus on finding solution on food security issue at WTO meet next month difficult: GTRI
India's top priorities for the MC13 include securing a permanent solution for its public stockholding (PSH) programme. This programme seeks flexibility in food procurement and pricing, crucial for India's food security needs. The PSH programme is a policy tool under which the government procures crops like rice and wheat from farmers at minimum support price (MSP), and stores and distributes foodgrains to the poor, it said. It added that through a programme called Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, India offers affordable rice and wheat to more than 800 million people, making it the biggest programme of its kind.
India sends pesticides to Afghanistan to ensure food security
The Indian assistance will ensure food security in Afghanistan and Central Asia, according to the Afghan ministry of agriculture and irrigation. The Afghan ministry expressed its gratitude towards India and said that the assistance will assist to fight locusts within the country and prevents those coming from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
India’s WTO stance: Permanent solution for food security first, other agri issues later
New Delhi’s stand comes after the US sought more time to come up with a solution and said that only PSH can’t be a part of the agriculture package at MC13 and want discussions on issues like providing information on export restrictions at least 30 days prior to the notification, which is not feasible.
Despite India push, US avoiding talks on food security measures
At a WTO agriculture negotiations meeting held on Tuesday, the US said a permanent solution for public stockholding, which includes subsidised procurement, is not possible even as India insisted that it has to be dealt with separately on a fast track as per the existing mandates and has to be delivered at MC13.
UN bars Indian rice exporters from participating in World Food Programme due to export ban
However, it has been shipping rice to friendly and neighbouring nations such as Indonesia, Senegal, Gambia, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Iran on a government-to-government basis. This is being facilitated by the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL), a government export body which was set up under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
Despite plentiful grain harvest, China suffers food security challenge as it heavily relies on imports
According to the news report, China's annual grain output exceeded 1.39 trillion kilogrammes this year. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced that in 2024, China's overall goal for grain production is to stabilise the production of grain rations, corn and soybeans to ensure grain output remains above 1.3 trillion kilogrammes, according to China's Central Television.
Alarm raised as 'apocalyptic' conditions grip Gaza
International aid organizations have raised alarm over the dire situation in Gaza following more than two months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. Charities like Save the Children and Oxfam described the catastrophic conditions, warning of potential irreversible consequences for Palestinians. The conflict has led to significant casualties, displacement, and destruction, leaving only a fraction of Gaza's hospitals operational. Survivors face the imminent threat of starvation and disease, with reports of appalling conditions, including wounds infested with maggots and severe shortages of medical supplies.
Cash-strapped Pakistan secures USD 655 ADB package
The ADB approved a financing package for Pakistan under three different loans. Among other components, these include USD 300 million for improving domestic resource mobilisation; USD 275 million for rehabilitating schools damaged by the devastating August 2022 floods; and USD 80 million for enhancing agricultural productivity to improve food security, according to an announcement by the ADB on Wednesday.
Security situation in South China Sea fragile: Navy Chief
Admiral Kumar also cited the World Food Programme's observation that food security in the region has grown increasingly precarious, with nine countries under moderate or high risk of serious hunger. "This is what a disruption, leave apart a complete blockade, could cause to the world and world economy," he said, highlighting the importance of sea lanes.
Implement food waste prevention programmes for food security: Amitabh Kant
Amitabh Kant, India's G20 Sherpa, has advocated for global food waste prevention initiatives to reduce food insecurity and promote private funding for sustainable agriculture research. Speaking at the Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 in New Delhi, Kant also stressed the importance of encouraging alternative crop cultivation beyond major grains.
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