"Matter of pride for every Indian": Economist Ramesh Chand on FAO Agricola Medal conferred on PM Modi
New Delhi, May 21
Former Director and Principal Economist at the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, Ramesh Chand, on Thursday said the conferment of the FAO Agricola Medal on Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflects India's achievements in agriculture, food security and poverty reduction.
Speaking to ANI, Chand said the award is a recognition of India's policy initiatives and long-term progress in the agriculture sector.
"I would say it is a recognition of the achievements of India and various policy initiatives taken by PM Modi during his tenure of 12 years as Prime Minister of this country," he said.
He added that such honours are typically given to leaders for significant contributions in advancing agriculture, food systems and eliminating hunger.
"If you look at the past, this award is given to people for extraordinary achievement as a leader in taking the country toward some great achievement in the areas of agriculture, food, poverty reduction, and eradication of hunger," Chand said.
He further noted that the recognition is a matter of pride for India.
"So getting c, that a United Nations Organisation has recognised the contribution of our Prime Minister, mainly in the area of agriculture, food, and food security," he added.
Prime Minister Modi was conferred the FAO Agricola Medal on Wednesday at a ceremony held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation headquarters in Rome by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.
The Prime Minister said he dedicated the honour to India's farmers, livestock rearers, fisheries workers, scientists and innovators, calling them the backbone of the country's food security system.
The Agricola Medal is one of the FAO's highest honours, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to global food and agriculture systems.
PM Modi received the award during the final leg of his five-nation tour, which included visits to the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While the award is nice, we should also look at ground reality. Many small farmers are still struggling with debt and climate change impacts. Hope such recognition leads to more concrete action like better MSP implementation and water conservation support. Every little step matters. 🌾
This is not just an award for PM Modi but for 130 crore Indians. Our farmers work tirelessly in sun and rain to feed the nation. The FAO acknowledging India's progress in hunger eradication is validation of our collective effort. Jai Kisan! 🚜
My father is a farmer in Punjab and he says PM Modi's zero-budget natural farming initiative has helped reduce his input costs. The award is well deserved. But we also need more irrigation projects and crop insurance reforms. Hope this spotlight brings more attention to rural India's needs.
FAO is a UN body and this is international recognition of India's food security model. Our Public Distribution System feeds 800 million people daily. During COVID, we supplied food grains globally. This medal is a reminder that Indian agriculture can lead the world if given right policies. 🇮🇳🌏
Proud of our PM but hope this recognition translates into faster implementation of projects like PM Fasal Bima Yojana. Many farmers in Maharashtra still face delays in claim settlements. Awards are good but action on ground matters more. Still, congratulations to everyone who contributed! 👏
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