Transform rural India, UN official tells government

Rtn V.G.P. Ravidas, (Extreme Right), President, Rotary Club of Madras East, handing over Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2014 to Kanayo F. Nwanze, president, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD ), at a function organised by Rotary Club of Madras East and Cavinkare Private Limited, in Chennai on August 06, 2014. Also seen are (From Left) Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, and M.S. Swaminathan, founder and chairman emeritus, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. Photo: R. Ravindran

A top United Nations official on Saturday suggested that the government create infrastructure and thereby employment in rural areas so that migration to cities and towns may be arrested.

Kanayo F. Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), a specialised UN agency, was on a visit to the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), where he interacted with the media along with the institute’s director William D. Dar. As part of IFAD’s development agenda for 2015, Dr. Nwanze said they had projected 17 points including food security, improving agricultural practices, encouraging small-holding farmers, involving more women in development activity, addressing climatic change and sustainable development. “Transformation of the rural space, along with complete infrastructure is the need of the hour. Construct godowns in rural areas and market facilities for farmers so that they can sell their produce for a better price. 80 per cent of the food production comes from small-holding farmers. We have to involve more women in the development activity,” he said, adding that since more than half of India’s population is under the age of 25 and many were unemployed, it would be critical to transform rural areas into vibrant places. Dr. Nwanze said the IFAD has been working in India for more than three decades, and had financed 26 projects of a value equalling $2.48 billion, of which the organisation contributed $877.3 million.

He said he had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari among others, and discussed various issues. Rural transformation and gender empowerment were vital for sustainably reducing poverty and bringing about inclusive growth.

Stating that the ongoing projects would be completed by 2015, Dr. Nwanze said the IFAD had been seeking from the government concept papers for the next round. Mr. Dar said that for every dollar invested on agriculture research, there was a return of nine dollars globally.

Published - August 10, 2014 01:44 pm IST