New Delhi: India is at the forefront of global food security efforts, implementing the largest food-based safety net programs in the world, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ram Nath Thakur has announced.

Speaking at the G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Brazil from September 12-14, Thakur highlighted India’s commitment to agricultural development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He emphasized that the country's approach goes beyond increasing productivity to include economic, social, and environmental sustainability, aiming to enhance farmer prosperity with a comprehensive development vision.

The meeting addressed four major areas for global agriculture: ensuring sustainability in agriculture and food systems, boosting the role of international trade in food security and nutrition, supporting family farmers, smallholders, and local communities, and integrating sustainable fisheries and aquaculture into value chains.

Thakur underscored India's dedication to building resilient agricultural systems, which includes empowering small and marginal fishers and facilitating their participation in global trade discussions.

He also engaged in bilateral meetings to strengthen agricultural relations with other nations and reiterated India's willingness to collaborate and contribute to global efforts to tackle food system challenges.

In other news, the area sown under kharif crops in India has increased to 1,065 lakh hectares this year, up from 1,044.85 lakh hectares in the same period last year. This rise, attributed to improved monsoon rains, is expected to boost production and farmer incomes while helping manage food inflation.

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