Lok Sabha Question No. 261 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Meeting of Agricultural Ministers of G20 Countries
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Khagen Murmu, Nihal Chand Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 261

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## MEETING OF AGRICULTURAL MINISTERS OF G20 COUNTRIES

## *261. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the Government has recently organized a meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of the G20 countries in Hyderabad;
- (b) if so, the details of issues relating to agriculture discussed therein;
- (c) whether the G20 countries agreed to share best practices in agriculture in the said meeting;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) whether the Union Government proposes to organize a meeting with countries other than G20 countries regarding various practices of agriculture to improve agriculture in the country in the future also and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 261 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 08 TH  AUGUST, 2023.

(a) & (b) : G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting was held in  Hyderabad from 15 th to 17 th June 2023.  Aligned  with  India's  G20  Presidency  theme  " One Earth,  One  Family,  One Future ",  under  leadership of India, the following issues were discussed during the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting:-

- (i)  Food security and nutrition,
- (ii) Sustainable agriculture with climate smart approach,
- (iii) Inclusive agri-value chains and food systems and
- (iv) Digitalization for agricultural transformation

The Chair Summary and Outcome Document of the Ministerial Meeting outlines in detail  the  consensus  that  was  reached  for  strengthening  cooperation  among  the  G20 nations in the above mentioned areas.

The two key outcomes of the meeting are (i) Deccan High Level Principles on Food Security  and  Nutrition  2023  and  (ii)  International  Millets  and  Other  Ancient  Grains Research Initiative (MAHARISHI). On India's initiative, it was the first time in the history of G20 that the Agriculture Ministers have agreed on champion the High Level Principles on food security and nutrition. The Principles demonstrate the G20's collective responsibility in reinforcing and complementing efforts across geographies in response to global food security crises by :

-  facilitating  humanitarian  assistance  to  countries  and  populations  in  vulnerable situations;
-  enhancing availability and access to nutritious food and strengthening food safety nets;  strengthening  policies  and  collaborative  actions  for  climate  resilient  and sustainable agriculture and food systems;
-  strengthening resilience and inclusivity in agriculture and food value chains;
-  promoting the one health approach;
-  accelerating innovation and the use of digital technology and
-  scaling up responsible public and private investments in agriculture.

## Annexure-I

The seven (07) principles of the Deccan High Level Principles 2023, are placed at .

Millets And OtHer Ancient Grains International ReSearcH Initiative (MAHARISHI) is a research collaboration on millets (Shree Anna) and other ancient grains, which are highly nutritious  and  climate-resilient  crops.  By  building  on  the  momentum  of  the  efforts undertaken  during  the  International  Year  of  Millets  2023  and  emphasizing  research  in areas of production, processing, marketing, and utilization.  India envisages to leverage the potential of millets (Shree Anna) for sustainable agriculture, food security, and rural development.  The proposed  Millets  And  OtHer  Ancient  Grains  International  ReSearcH Initiative, initiated by India, was unanimously approved by the agricultural chief scientists of all G20 countries and invited international organizations in the meeting held in Varanasi and welcomed by the Agriculture Ministers in Hyderabad.

The  G20  nations  also  pledged  to  alleviate  the  immediate  suffering  and  build resilience  in  communities  affected  by  food  security  crises  by  providing  assistance  and support.  The  G20  countries  encouraged  responsible  investments  from  all  sources  in infrastructure,  research, and  innovations that support sustainable, climate-resilient, and productive agriculture.

Cognizant of the transformative potential of innovation and digital technology, the G20 nations committed to fostering scalable solutions that support the transition towards sustainable food systems. This involves ensuring affordable and inclusive access to digital infrastructure, as well as promoting the development and safe application of digital tools tailored to the specific needs of the small holder farmers.

(c) & (d): To promote food security and nutrition programs, the G20 countries  and 9 invited guest countries (Spain, Netherlands, Singapore, Vietnam, Oman, Nigeria, UAE,

Bangladesh, Mauritius) agreed to share best practices and experiences with each other in the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting.

(e): Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(DA&FW) has signed 73 MoUs/ Agreements with 67 countries for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors in areas such as  Research  and Development; Capacity Building; Post-harvest management;  value  addition/  food  processing;  plant  protection;   enhancing  bilateral trade, etc and 70 Institutional MoUs have been signed by Indian Council for Agricultural Research(ICAR)/  Department  of  Agricultural  Research  and  Education(DARE)  for enhancing cooperation in Agriculture in the areas of Research and Education. During 1 st Global  Conference  of  International  Year  of  Millets  held  on  18-19 th   March,  2023,  the bilateral meetings with Head of Delegates from Sri Lanka, Guyana, Suriname, Zambia, Mauritius  and  World  Food  Programme  (WFP)  were  held.  During  the  G20  Agriculture Ministers  Meeting,  11  (Eleven)  bilateral  meetings  with  the  Head  of  Delegation  from various  foreign  countries  /  International  organizations  namely Food  and  Agriculture Organization(FAO) , Vietnam,  Oman,  Canada , International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD),  United  Kingdom(UK),  United  States  of  America(USA),  Japan, European Union, Italy and Brazil were held . For enhancing cooperation in Agriculture and allied sectors, meetings with various countries are organized from time to time at mutually convenient dates.

## Annexure-I

## G20 Deccan High Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition 2023

PRINCIPLE1 :  Facilitate  Humanitarian  Assistance  to  Countries  and  Populations  in Vulnerable Situations PRINCIPLE2 :  Enhance Availability and Access to Nutritious Food andStrengthen Food Safety Nets PRINCIPLE 3 :  Strengthen  Policies and  Collaborative Actions  for Climate  Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems PRINCIPLE 4 : Strengthen Resilience and Inclusivity in Agriculture and Food Value Chains PRINCIPLE 5 : Promote the One Health Approach PRINCIPLE 6 : Accelerate Innovation and the Use of Digital Technology PRINCIPLE 7 : Scale-Up Responsible Public and Private Investments in Agriculture

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