NEW DELHI / HYDERABAD: The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have entered into a partnership to strengthen climate-resilient food security and livelihoods in India.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was issued today by Bishow Parajuli, WFP Representative and Country Director India, and Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, signed on time for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021.
“The escalating climate crisis and shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated global hunger and threatened the food security, nutrition and livelihoods of millions, especially the poorest and most vulnerable communities. By working together, we hope to provide science, knowledge and implementation frameworks to these communities and help strengthen their food security, nutrition and livelihoods in order to be more resilient to climate change, ”Parajuli said.
“Climate-resistant food security, nutrition and livelihoods, especially for smallholders and ecologically endangered communities, is one of the priority areas of ICRISAT, and with this partnership we want to develop ideas and framework conditions for policy making not only in India, but regionally and globally,” added Dr. Hughes added.
“The latest IPCC report has rung an alarm bell about the effects of climate change on agriculture and food security. A significant part of this partnership will focus on state level vulnerability analysis in India and be focused on developing a sustainable food systems approach, ”she added.
As part of the partnership, the WFP in India and ICRISAT will, among other things, work on joint action research, advocacy and awareness-raising, promoting traditional nutritious plants, analyzing food and nutrition security and carrying out adaptation strategies.
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