16 October 2020, Rome – India has minted a commemorative coin to celebrate World Food Day & the 75^th anniversary of the Food & Agriculture Organization.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the gesture & for the country’s support. “We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with India as we work together toward achieving the SDGs by 2030,” the Director-General expressed on Twitter.

Prime Minister Modi presented the new coin, with a face value of 75 rupees, to highlight the long standing relation of India with FAO, choosing 16 October to mark the occasion of FAO’s 75^th anniversary & the 40^th celebration of World Food Day.

In a statement also announcing the launch of 17 newly-developed bio-fortified crop varieties, he emphasized the high priority his government accords to agriculture & nutrition & its resolve to completely eliminate hunger, undernourishment & malnutrition. “The journey of FAO in making the vulnerable classes & masses stronger, economically & nutritionally, has been unparalleled,” the Prime Minister’s office said.

FAO’s mission is even more relevant amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative to the country. “The pandemic has reminded everyone that food security & nutritious diets matter to all,” he said.

Sustainable Development Goal No. 2 calls for ending hunger by 2030. Southern Asia is a critical area for that challenge as 13.7 percent of the subregion’s population is undernourished according to FAO’s State of Food Security & Nutrition in the World 2020 report.