Maneesh Gobin, Mauritius' Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, met with Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, today in New Delhi. The two leaders agreed that both countries will collaborate more closely with other countries on food security.
During the meeting, Tomar stated that India's relations with Mauritius are not only political and commercial but also cultural and spiritual.
Tomar stated that the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is very serious about agriculture and that many concrete steps have been taken to advance it, and that India has achieved self-sufficiency in food grain production to meet not only its domestic needs but also to export to other countries.
Gobin stated that he has family ties to India and that approximately 60% of the Mauritius population is of Indian origin.
He urged the formation of an alliance in the field of food security, as Prime Minister Modi has done in the field of solar energy.
Gobin praised the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and requested a collaboration agreement with it. Tomar discussed the role of ICAR in the development of Indian agriculture, as well as the role of its affiliated Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, and over 100 other institutions.
He requested that the Mauritian leader prepare the framework for the Memorandum of Understanding so that it could be considered.
Food security is critical to ensuring that everyone has enough to eat and that families can build their communities without fear of losing their lives. To meet global demand, food production must be doubled in the coming years to address many issues such as starvation, malnutrition, and associated health problems.
