IFPRI to support Niti Aayog in transforming India’s Food Systems

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Niti Aayog have entered into a strategic partnership to provide policy analytics and support to the Indian government in the areas of agriculture, rural development, trade, and climate change.

The partnership, formalized by a SoI signed on Tuesday, will initially focus on mutually identified areas within the broader realm of food systems transformation, according to an official statement.

The SoI (Statement of Intent) activities will involve providing policy analytical tools, generating evidence on India’s agri-food trade in regional and global contexts, supporting the design and evaluation of flagship programmes, and developing and tracking rural transformation indicators.

The partnership will also enable collaborative work between the two organizations that can generate new insights into the role of agriculture in shaping economic development in India and other emerging economies, said Niti Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) member Ramesh Chand at the virtual signing ceremony.

Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery said that agriculture will play a central role in India’s development trajectory, as strong rural demand supports manufacturing and economic revival.

He also stressed the importance of increasing productivity of agriculture, coupled with a shift towards natural and soil-friendly practices, for India’s transformation over the next 25 years.

The statement quoted him as saying, “In India’s development trajectory, agriculture will play a central role”.

The partnership is expected to benefit millions of farmers and consumers across the country, and to enhance India’s role as a global leader in the agricultural sector.