Odisha signs with UN, to ensure food security

BHUBANESWAR: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Odisha have teamed up to boost small and marginal farmers’ food security by increasing their climate change resilience. The UN agency stated in a release dated Friday, January 14, that Muthu Kumar, Director of Agriculture and Food Production, Government of Odisha, and Bishow Parajuli, Representative and Country Director, WFP, signed an agreement at a virtual programme on Thursday. Advisories will be sent to small farmers in the state, who are particularly vulnerable to cyclones, as part of a trial project to assist them to adapt to the effects of the climate crisis.

Small farmers, who make up 90 per cent of Odisha’s peasant population, will benefit. It is necessary for people to be able to choose the best agriculture and livelihood options in order to increase their food security and income. During the initiative, the WFP and the agricultural department will produce toolkits, modules, and guidelines to help small farmers. It will assist the state’s farming communities in making educated decisions about how to transition to a more productive and resilient agricultural sector.