India and World Food Programme Join Forces to Combat Global Hunger
New Delhi: India and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) today to collaborate on addressing the global hunger crisis, leveraging India’s agricultural resources to support vulnerable populations in crisis zones worldwide. The initiative, led by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, enables WFP to source fortified rice from India to meet the food and nutritional needs of communities facing severe food insecurity.
The partnership enables WFP to leverage India’s agricultural surplus, particularly its robust rice production, to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid. Fortified rice, enriched with essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamins, will be supplied to address malnutrition and hunger in regions affected by conflict, natural disasters, or economic crises. This collaboration builds on discussions held at a February 2025 Executive Board side event in Rome, where representatives from the Indian government and the WFP explored cooperative strategies to enhance global food security.
Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), emphasised India’s commitment to global solidarity, stating, “India is committed to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the earth is one family – and collective responsibility towards each other and their shared future. The country’s humanitarian support for communities in need, facing food insecurity, is part of this approach.” Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), expressed gratitude for India’s role, noting, “We deeply appreciate India’s steadfast commitment to fostering a food-secure and peaceful world. This partnership reflects our joint intent to strengthen global efforts and ensure sustained support for those in need.”
The LoI establishes a framework for a reliable supply of food grains for WFP’s humanitarian distribution, particularly in regions grappling with rising food insecurity amid constrained global humanitarian funding. The initiative complements ongoing collaborations between India and WFP, including projects on supply chain optimization for distribution and procurement, the rollout of fortified rice programs, deployment of Annapurti Devices (Grain ATMs) for automated food dispensing, establishment of Jan Poshan Kendra nutrition centers, adoption of smart warehousing technology, and use of Flospans mobile storage units to enhance food storage and distribution efficiency.
The signing ceremony was attended by Ashutosh Agnihotri, Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Samir Wanmali, Regional Director of the WFP Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APARO), Elisabeth Faure, WFP India Country Director, and other senior DFPD officials. The partnership highlights India’s growing role as a key contributor to global food security, utilising its agricultural capacity to support WFP’s mission to combat hunger and malnutrition worldwide.
– global bihari bureau
