Bhopal: BRICS Nations Need To Focus On Empowering Small, Marginal Farmers, To Ensure Food Security: Shivraj
The BRICS nations have to find a solution to the issue, he said and added that empowerment of small and marginal farmers would alone strengthen the food security in the world: Reports
BHOPAL: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday called for cooperation among the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) nations for the empowerment of small and marginal farmers to ensure food security.
Chairing the two-day BRICS agriculture ministers’ conference, the final phase of the five-day International BRICS Agriculture Conference, began in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Chouhan laid focus on the global cooperation for the empowerment of the small and marginal farmers to ensure food security.
He said that the small and marginal farmers have been affected the most by the factors like climate change, mounting pressure on the natural resources and growing unpredictability of the market.
The BRICS nations have to find a solution to the issue, he said and added that empowerment of small and marginal farmers would alone strengthen the food security in the world.
The union minister spoke about India’s achievements in agriculture.
He said that over the past decade, the sector has recorded an average annual growth of around 4.5 percent. The country’s total food production has increased to 376 million tonnes.
He noted that about 87 percent of India’s farmers are small and marginal farmers, and empowering them is the real key to inclusive development.
On the fourth day of the five-day International BRICS Agriculture Conference on Friday, the most important ministerial dialogue was held.
The theme of the session was ‘Food Security for the Future through Small Farmers, Women and Youth’.
Wide-ranging discussions took place on food security, climate change, digital technology, and the role of women farmers during the session.
This conference, held under India’s presidency, is not limited to BRICS member countries alone.
The participation of partner nations has made it a significant platform for global agricultural cooperation.
Chairing the session, Mr. Chouhan said that various welfare schemes for farmers launched by the Centre such as ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi’, ‘Kisan Credit Card’, and crop insurance scheme have ensured financial security of the agriculturists.
He laid emphasis on natural farming, saying that there should be balanced use of chemical fertilizers to preserve fertility of the soil.
