INDIA GREENS PARTY
Press Statement
World Food Day: Food security lies in sustainable agriculture and reform of markets, says IGP
Unchir, Pauri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand, 16 October 2020: The India Greens Party (IGP) today said the food security lies in the sustainable agriculture, self-reliance and reform of markets.
In a press statement on the occasion of the World Food Day today, the IGP President Suresh Nautiyal said agriculture — the most labour intensive of all economic activities providing a source of livelihoods for the rural households throughout the world – has made huge strides over the decades in supporting a growing world population; but still millions of people go hungry everyday as food is not distributed to those who need it the most.
“Billions of people remain malnourished because of unequal access to land, water, credit, market and food. Thus, the right to food, though a human right, is compromised and most people have no opportunity to live in dignity,” he stated.
Mr Nautiyal said in such a situation, the prospects for future food security lie only in the sustainable agriculture, localisation of food supply chains and self-reliance.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations designated 16 October as World Food Day in 1979. The Day promotes global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure healthy diets for all.
The IGP leader said there is a great need to develop a common vision and an integrated approach to sustainability across agriculture and food security taking into account social, economic and environmental considerations.
“The vision of the Greens is to ensure food security which exists when all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food,” Mr Nautiyal explained.
He said it is also important to ensure that universal food security exists in future and that the right to food is protected.
“Also, the vision should be to reform markets to support farmers and rural livelihoods,” he pointed out, adding that the food supply chains should also be equipped with stringent regulations on production, storage and sale to ensure food security.
“At the same time, it is vital to encourage farmers to not apply pesticides and not use techniques which degrade the soil in order to pull off bumper crops,” he added.
Mr Nautiyal said the objective should be to ensure that genetically modified organisms are not used because they are not the solution as they pose unacceptable risks to the environment, to the independent smaller farmers, and to the consumers, as well as to the biodiversity that is our best insurance against agricultural disasters.
-Press Statement issued by the IGP Spokesperson (North) Rafat Jamal.
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(India Greens Party is registered with the Election Commission of India under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Registration Number: 56/476/2018-19/PPS-I, effective from 18/07/2019.)
Party HQ: 104, Vardhman Complex, 1st Floor, LSC, Savita Vihar, Delhi-110092.
Email: indiagreensparty@gmail.com Website: https://indiagreensparty.org/
