PM Modi Conferred FAO’s Agricola Medal 2026 in Rome
Rome, May 20 (TNT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday conferred the prestigious Agricola Medal for 2026 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at the organisation’s headquarters in Rome in recognition of his leadership in advancing food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development in India and globally.
The award was presented by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu during a special ceremony at the FAO Headquarters.
Receiving the honour, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the award to Indian farmers and the country’s agricultural scientific community for their contribution towards ensuring food security and nutrition both in India and globally. He described the recognition as a tribute to India’s commitment to human welfare, food security and sustainable development.
Highlighting the importance of agriculture in India’s civilisational ethos, the Prime Minister said farming represented a sacred bond between Mother Earth and the people of India.
Modi said India’s scientific and innovation-driven agricultural approach was helping build a sustainable, climate-resilient and future-ready farming ecosystem.
He highlighted initiatives such as “Per Drop More Crop”, micro-irrigation and precision farming as key pillars of India’s agricultural policy framework.
The Prime Minister also underlined the increasing use of Digital Public Infrastructure, artificial intelligence-based advisory systems, drones, remote sensing technologies and sensor-based machinery in Indian agriculture, stating that these technologies were helping farmers improve productivity and incomes.
He noted that India had developed nearly 3,000 climate-resilient crop varieties over the past decade and said the country’s science-driven agricultural model was contributing significantly to global food security, particularly for nations in the Global South.
Recalling India’s long association with the FAO as a founding member, Modi said India remained committed to working with the organisation towards achieving global food security, sustainable agriculture and a hunger-free world.
He also thanked the FAO for supporting India’s efforts in promoting nutritious food choices through the International Year of Millets initiative.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the FAO Headquarters marked the first visit by an Indian Head of Government to the organisation in the last 30 years.
TNT TS
