UN joins forces to help improve agrifood systems in India

The United Nations has come together with the Indian Government, the private sector, farmers’ groups and financial institutions to craft a strategy to help make the country’s agriculture food system more resilient to climate shocks and pressures.

The Investment Forum for Advancing Climate-Resilient Agrifood Systems in India, held in New Delhi on 18-19 January, was jointly organized by NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), the Indian Government and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The Forum brought together more than 200 experts and others to focus on six key areas: climate-resilient agriculture; digital infrastructure and solutions; financing climate-resilient agrifood systems; climate-resilient value chains; production practices and inputs for climate resilience; and gender mainstreaming and social inclusion for climate resilience.

The main goal was to craft an investment and partnership strategy for advancing climate-resilient agrifood systems.

In his keynote address, Professor Ramesh Chand from NITI Aayog urged a fresh economic analysis in agriculture, considering natural resources' impact on climate change, proposing metrics beyond financial prices, and emphasizing alignment with the larger UN approach for contemporary and long-term challenges.

Manoj Ahuja, MoA&FW Secretary, stressed the need for a team approach with multiple stakeholders to tackle India’s climate challenges. He highlighted the need for strategic investments to boost incentives for farmers, particularly focusing on small and marginal farmers, who constitute 85% of India's farming population.

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, noted that with "food demand predicted to grow by at least 50% by 2050 to feed our growing human family, we urgently need to scale up investments in climate resilience in agriculture to ensure future generations have the resources needed to grow enough food."

Mr. Sharp reiterated the UN's support for climate initiatives in India, such as the International Year of Millets, and expressed the UN’s commitment to being a "partner of choice" for India.

Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO’s Representative in India, praised the Indian Government’s leadership in constructing climate-resilient agrifood systems through prioritized actions in mitigation and adaptation. He said: "When investing, it's crucial to ensure feasibility and examine the sustainability of our actions. This includes considering the flow of working capital, labour availability, sustainability, and impacts on the environment, the roles of women in agrifood systems, and other factors."

Mr. Hagiwara said FAO's knowledge and experience were available for de-risking investments in developing climate-resilient agrifood systems.

The Forum identified priorities for financing climate-resilient agrifood systems through diverse investments like equity, grants, bonds, and other financing options. It emphasized a comprehensive approach to secure funds.