“Collaboration in agriculture and food security is crucial to deal with climate change”, said Mr Jon Georg Dale, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Norway here today. Speaking at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation at a consultation on climate change, he said “Food security is top of the global agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Agriculture must be at the heart of development and we must use water and other resources sustainably.”

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has ‘Climate Change Ready Varieties’ of rice that can help provide additional resilience to the farmers” said Dr Matthew Morell, Director General, of the IRRI. Delivering the Millennium Lecture at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on February 10, 2017, Dr Morell emphasized the importance of rice for consumption and for farmers. The climate-ready varieties could face adverse conditions of stress such as salinity, drought, flooding and heat.

Prof M S Swaminathan was today presented with the Canadian Governor General’s Medallian “in recognition of his contribution to improved agricultural practices and rural development in India and globally”.

The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley today, moved forward on the ‘agri-budget’ focus reflected last year.

“Climate Change is not a buzzword any more, it is a reality,” said Mrs Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius on the occasion of the Millennium Lecture at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on November 18, 2016.

The World Food Prize that recognizes outstanding work by individuals towards enhancing quality, quantity or availability food in the world will be awarded this year for four individuals for their work on biofortification.

The occurrence of widespread malnutrition, particularly amongst women and children, is a cause for concern. The Global Nutrition Report 2016, released today, confirms that in the case of under-5 stunting and wasting, India’s position is 114 and 120 respectively among 129 countries.

The foremost award for agriculture and food security – The World Food Prize for 2015 has been awarded to Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh.

According to media reports, our PM has announced that we should take full advantage of genetically modified crops for improving the productivity and profitability of farming in our country.

The recent unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms have caused extensive damage to agriculture crops and great distress to farmers.

"One of the reasons women continue to face violence is because of lack of control over their financial resources," said Ms Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Chairperson National Commission for Women today.

"IMD has forecast that the total rainfall this year may be 93% of normal and also there is 35% probability of deficient monsoon.