With an objective to address key global challenges, technology, and investment in today's agricultural world, the AgroWorld 2022 organized by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture kickstarted on Wednesday. Minister of State for Rural Development, Faggan Singh Kulaste inaugurated the summit organized at the sprawling campus of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
The summit began with the welcome address by ICAR chairman Dr MJ Khan, followed by the lightning of the inaugural lamp by state minister Kulaste, joined in by other dignitaries including Dr. AK Singh, deputy DG of Horticulture at ICAR, Maharaj Muthoo, the President of Roman Forum among others.
Speaking to Krishi Jagran, Khan said, "There are 3 key components of this event apart from the trade fair, as the Agri-Business summit will start shortly. While the Agri-clinic event will also initiate on Thursday".
He further told that a national convention of FPO (Farmer Producer Organisations) will be held under the initiative of the central government to create 10,000 FPO centres and link them with the market, industries, and facilitate their partnership.
"5,000 FPOs have already been created, and we are hopeful to achieve our goal to create the rest of the centres in the next two years", he added. Filipino horticulturist William Dar, who has recently been declared the first awardee to receive MS Swaminathan Global Leadership Award 2022, also addressed the event, stressing on sustainable agriculture and climate change issues.
In conversation with Krishi Jagran, he said, "AgroWorld 2022 is such as an important event to look at all the aspects impacting into the productivity of the farmers. Farmers are the focus, and we are bringing all the stakeholders of the agriculture ecosystem such as the private sector, the academics, the research institutions, and governments to bring the innovations needed to level up productivity".
"When there is a vast population in a country, there are more people to feed, and if not addressed on time it might become quite a challenging situation in the far future. Currently, the advancement in science and technology could be a solution to boost up productivity in the agriculture sector", he added.
Dr. Dar is known for his outstanding contributions to the development of sustainable agriculture on grounds of newer and precise technologies and policies, resulting in stronger food security conditions.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Rural Development, Faggan Singh said that people from all corners of the world have arrived to attend this event, and this can be seen as a critical opportunity to address the agricultural issues faced today at the global front.
"A record jump has been recorded in India's production and the government has been constantly supporting the Individual farmers and the farmer groups in all aspects. In the event, a vast discourse took place on how to increase the earnings of the farmers, and the present government is open to all the expert solutions to frame relevant and efficient policies to benefit the farmers”, he stated.
