Food Security

The minister said that the Farmers Distress Inde is designed to develop a forewarning system to take preventive measures to identify farmer distress, providing alerts three months in advance.

The minister said that as Sri Lanka moves forward, the challenge remains clear: finding sustainable, humane solutions that protect both livelihoods and biodiversity for future generations.

Amnesty International has also sounded the alarm, calling on donor countries to step up financial support. According to UNHCR, 95 per cent of Rohingya households depend on humanitarian aid, and food ration reductions will push them deeper into hunger and insecurity.

Choudhary said that to assist states in regulating groundwater resources, the ministry of Jal Shakti drafted a Model ‘Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Bill.’ This bill provides a regulatory framework to curb indiscriminate groundwater extraction while promoting rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge.

A gene bank serves as a biorepository for preserving genetic material, such as seeds, pollen, and tissue samples, collected from various plant species. The primary objective is to protect these valuable resources from extinction and support research, conservation, and breeding efforts.

Omar Abdullah, the head of the Kashmir government, stated that Kashmir is facing a severe threat from climate change, particularly in the form of a water crisis. He stressed the need for greater awareness and action.

Given the complex history of water disputes between the two nations, continued diplomatic engagement and technical collaboration will be essential in ensuring a fair and sustainable solution for both sides, officials say.

Minister of state for agriculture Ashish Jaiswal, who also attended the Nagpur event, emphasised the critical role of these assured funds in providing relief to farmers facing persistent financial challenges.