RS Deputy chairman Harivansh addresses 7th G20 Speaker's Summit at Rome

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Friday addressed the 7th G20 Speaker’s Summit (P-20) at Rome on the subject ‘Sustainability and Food Security after the Pandemic’.

Speaking on the occasion, Harivansh said that Covid has given us an opportunity to introspect on ensuring food and nutrition for all during these challenging times.

While acknowledging the tireless efforts of millions of farmers and farmer-friendly policies of the Government, Harivansh said that the agricultural sector in India remained resilient even during the worst phases of pandemic. Owing to this, India has recorded highest ever foodgrain production of 308 million tonnes.

Harivansh further said that even during the difficult Covid times, India not only continued its national food and nutrition



programs, but also

augmented them with additional measures to ensure affordable food for all stated that in order to support the farm sector during Covid, India has initiated world’s largest direct benefit transfer mechanism to provide cash assistance to over 113.7 million farmers.

Implementation of such a scheme at scale was enabled by Unique Identification System - Aadhaar - a technological intervention to provide government assistance.

‘The rise in frequency and intensity of natural disasters like floods, draughts due to climate change is likely to increase water shortages, loss of agricultural land and livestock, among other challenges.

This urgently warrants an introspection to develop resilient and sustainable food supply chain’ said Harivansh.