1518) 75th Anniversary of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), India: A Rs.75/- Quaternary Silver Coin issued by the Government of India, commemorating the milestone: Date of Commemorative Coin release: 16.10.2020:
On 16.10.2020, the Government of India has released a Rs.75/- (Rupees Seventy Five) Commemorative Coin celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), which stands as a testament to India's long-standing relationship with the global body.
The Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi while releasing the commemorative coin also released 17 new bio-fortified varieties of eight crops and reiterated the Central Government's commitment towards procurement of Agricultural crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
On the Obverse of the Rs. 75/- (Rupees Seventy Five) Quaternary Silver Coin is seen the Emblem of the Government of India - The Lion Capitol of the legendary ancient Indian Emperor Ashok, which is the Emblem of the Government of India, placed in the centre.
The inscription on the upper periphery reads - "BHARAT x INDIA".
On the lower periphery is inscribed the denomination of the coin - "75 RUPEES" (spelt in two languages Hindi, at left and English, at right of the numerals).
On the Reverse of the Rs.75/- (Rupees Seventy five) Quaternary Silver Coin is mentioned "FAO" on a shining disc of the Sun, on the upper periphery.
On the centre left and right peripheries are seen stylised representations of ears of wheat.
In the lower half of the Coin is seen a Lotus, the National Flower of India growing in a stylised water body, with the year of issue "2020" inscribed below it.
On the lower periphery is the slogan - "SAHI POSHAN DESH ROSHAN" (meaning "Right Nutrition, Country Beaming/Proud").
India has had a historic association with the FAO:
- During 1956-67, Dr. Binay Ranjan Sen was the Director General of the FAO.
- The World Food Programme, which won the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 was established during his time.
- India's proposals for the International Year of Pulses (2016) and the International Year of Millets (2023) have been endorsed by the FAO.
- India's vision aligns with international efforts to fight malnutrition, undernutrition and hunger, which are being given the highest priority.
- The journey of FAO and India's association with it in making the vulnerable classes and masses stronger, economically and nutritionally, has been unparalleled.
Some Indian initiatives:
Combating malnutrition:
India has rolled out an ambitious POSHAN Abhiyaan (Nutrition Mission) targetting over 100 million people with the aim to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia and low birth weight.
Malnutrition is a global problem with two billion people suffering from micronutrient deficiency. Nearly 45% of deaths among children are linked to malnutrition.
Appropriately, it is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN).
Aligning with the international priority, the development of nutritionally rich varieties of crops with elevated levels of Micronutrients, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, total Protein, quality of Protein with high Lysine and Tryptophan, Anthocyanin, Provitamin A and Oleic Acid and reduced level of anti-nutritional factors etc. have been accorded top priority under the Programme.
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) under the leadership of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 53 such varieties during the past five years.
Prior to 2014, there was only one Bio-fortified variety developed.
Transforming Indian "Thali" ("Food Platter") into "Nutri-Thali":
The 17 recently developed bio-fortified varieties of 8 crops dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister have will have up to 3.0 fold increase in nutritional value.
- The rice variety CR Dhan 315 has high Zinc.
- Wheat variety HI 1633 rich in Protein, Iron and Zinc,
- HD 3298 is rich in Protein and Iron
- DBW 303 and DDW 48 Wheat varieties are rich in Protein
- Ladhowal Quality Protein Maize Hybrid 1, 2 and 3 are rich in Lysine and Tryptophan.
- CFMV 1 and 2 of Finger Millet rich in Calcium, Iron and Zinc
- CLMV1 of little Millet rich in Iron and Zinc
- Pusa Mustard 32 with low Erucic Acid
- Girnar 4 and 5 of Groundnut with enhanced Oleic Acid and
- Yam variety Sri Neelima and DA 340 with enhanced Zinc, Iron and Anthocyanin content.
These varieties, along with other food ingredients are positioned at transforming the normal Indian "Thali" into a "nutri-Thali".
These varieties have been developed by utilising the local landraces and farmer's varieties. The high Zinc rice has been developed from landraces of Assam rice collected from Garo Hills and those of finger millets from Gujarat collections of Dang district.
The Programme:
ICAR has started Nutri-Sensitive Agricultural Resources and Innovations (NARI) Programme for promoting family farming linking Agriculture to Nutrition, Nutri-smart Villages for enhancing nutritional security and location specific Nutrition Garden models are being developed and promoted by "Kissan Vikas Kendras" (KVKs) to ensure access to locally available, healthy and diversified diet with adequate macro and micronutrients.
The Objective:
The production of bio-fortified crop varieties will be up-scaled and linked with Government Programmes of Mid-day Meal, Anganwadi etc. to reduce malnutrition and make India "Kuposhan Mukta" ("Malnutrition Free"), through naturally enriched food ingredients.
This is also aimed at ushering in higher income of farmers and to open up new avenues of entrepreneurship development.
4) World Bee Day: A set of three Stamps issued by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA)on behalf of three offices - New York, Geneva and Vienna to bring focussed attention on Bees: Stamps issue date: 20.05.2019
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"GOOD analysis. Unfortunately in India people are judging each and every good work of Government by political angle."
The work shows for itself, Khanna sahab. The ICAR and other Govt. agencies involved in this work have been showing excellent commitment to their work all along, ever since the Green Revolution, with a bit of encouragement from the Governments.
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