PM Modi receives FAO's highest honour Agricola Medal for contribution to food security, farmer welfare
Rome, May 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the 2026 Agricola Medal, the highest honour of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, during a ceremony held at the FAO Headquarters here on Wednesday.
The medal was presented by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu at the historic FAO Plenary Hall in recognition of PM Modi's contribution to food security, agricultural development and farmer welfare, according to the organisation.
Congratulating the Prime Minister, Qu Dongyu said the honour recognised his commitment to improving the welfare of people through landmark initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, strengthening food security and improving the lives of farmers.
He also acknowledged India's support for FAO's efforts to combat hunger and poverty and advance universal food security and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The FAO chief praised PM Modi's leadership in transforming India's agricultural landscape through farmer-centric and technology-driven initiatives.
He highlighted the scale of India's food and agriculture programmes, including financial inclusion initiatives, the food-based social safety net covering around 800 million people since the Covid-19 pandemic, and direct income support to over 110 million farmers.
Qu Dongyu also appreciated India's push for regenerative and natural farming and its efforts to promote nutrient-rich millets globally through the International Year of Millets initiative in partnership with the FAO.
He further lauded India's emphasis on digital public infrastructure during its G20 Presidency, describing it as a major step towards improving access to digital technologies in developing countries and enabling efficient service delivery. According to the FAO chief, these sustained initiatives have contributed significantly to lifting millions of people out of poverty in India.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the recognition, let's not forget the ground reality. Many small farmers still struggle with debt and climate change. Awards are good, but policies need to reach the last mile. Hope this translates into more action.
The FAO recognizing PM Modi's work is a testament to India's growing global influence. The digital infrastructure push during G20 was brilliant. Now if we can replicate this success in other sectors, India will truly shine. 😊
800 million people covered under food safety nets is no joke. Whether you support the government or not, this scale of hunger intervention is remarkable. Proud of my country today. 🙏
Interesting to see this from an international perspective. I've read about India's millet promotion and the direct benefit transfers to farmers. It's good to see these efforts getting high-level recognition beyond just national borders.
Good news, but let's not get carried away. The real test is on the ground—farmer protests, MSP demands, climate resilience. Global medals won't solve local problems. We need a balanced view. Still, a nice feather in the cap for the country. 😊
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