The impact of COVID-19 on food security, India on Thursday pitched for closer interaction and knowledge sharing about agriculture within the eight-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to keep food supply chains active and protect the farmers.Addressing virtually the 6th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of SCO, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: “In view of the long-term impact of the COVID pandemic on food security and supply chains, maintaining the normal functioning of the food supply chain in order to ensure food and nutritional security requires close contact and cooperation between countries,” India, along its broad growth trajectory in the agriculture sector, will continue to share best practices and capacity building of other developing countries bilaterally as well as in collaboration with international organizations to make them self-sufficient and food-secure.
The Indian agriculture sector has performed very well during the Covid period. Not only foodgrain production has increased but also exports, thereby contributing to global food security.The government is pursuing a vision of empowering farmers, agricultural women and rural youth by developing new technologies and practices and taking large scale lab-to-ground initiatives.
Source : Economic Times
