Cooperative giant IFFCO must be smiling when India’s plan to provide 140 million soil health cards to farmers came up for special appreciation in the meeting between Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture and Director General, FAO, Mr. Jose Graziano da silva. It was IFFCO which started the idea and created mobile soil testing vans before the Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up the issue with the seriousness it deserved.
Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture met the Director General, FAO, Mr. Jose Graziano da silva on the sidelines of the FAO conference in Rome Tuesday. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to make efforts to enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture.
Singh appreciated the work done by FAO in helping countries achieve the objectives of global food security and sustainable agricultural development. DG, FAO commended India’s achievements in the field of agriculture.
The Minister highlighted the measures being taken by the government to improve the conditions of Indian farmers particularly in the field of irrigation, financial inclusion of farmers, soil health cards for farmers, enhanced investments, better targeting of benefits for farmers etc.
DG, FAO complimented India’s mammoth plan to provide 140 million soil health cards to all its farmers and observed that it could be model for other countries particularly in the context of FAO’s declaration of 2016 as the international year of soils. DG, FAO invited India to make a presentation on this program in FAO’s upcoming conference in Bangkok in August, 2015.
FAO also agreed to participate and provide technical assistance in conservation and promotion of indigenous cattle breeds through India’s Gokul mission. Both sides agreed to build further on the rich history of collaboration between India and the FAO in the future.