Experts call for farmer-centric policies to tackle global hunger, migration risks

Farmer-centric policies, technology-driven market access and cross-sector collaboration can reduce the risks of hunger, migration and unrest in vulnerable communities, experts said at a session during the two-day DialogueNEXT conference “Take it to the Farmer.”

Held on the occasion of World Agriculture Day, the conference was hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation in partnership with CIMMYT, the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.

The session titled “Sowing the Next Season of Peace Through Agriculture” brought together policymakers and defence officials.

Máximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, highlighted the historical link between food insecurity and conflict. “There has always been a relationship between hunger and war,” he said, explaining how disruption in food supplies and rising prices can destabilise societies.

He pointed to how conflict destroyed farms, displaced people and increased prices, contributing to unrest.

Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, spoke about the need for farmer-oriented policies.

Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister of India and Board Member of CIMMYT, said, “India’s leadership and innovations in agriculture are important to unlock gains in productivity, sustainability and access across every facet of the agri-food value chain.”

Sharon Burke, Chief Engagement Officer at CIMMYT, underscored how collaboration between agriculture and defence sectors could address vulnerabilities.

Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of India’s Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), said, “The emerging global megatrends are posing complex challenges on agri-food systems which need smallholder farmer-centric, systemic solutions and their accelerated uptake.”

“This essentially needs greater investments in cutting-edge science, innovations and partnerships across discovery to delivery. Since India’s agricultural transformation is happening at a faster pace, the country can serve as a smallholder agriculture innovation hub for the Global South,” he added.

Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT and BISA, emphasised the need to scale farmer-first efforts. “This event helps in connecting the dots and garnering further support to scale these efforts both in India, South Asia, and around the world,” he said.

The event also hosted farmers from Bihar, UP and Punjab. Notably, the world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. More than 150 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates recently warned that the world was “not even close” to meeting future food demands, urging increased investment in research.