NITI Aayog Member Prof. Ramesh Chand today held a curtain raiser press conference on the 32^nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists to be held from August 02 to 07, 2024 at Pusa Institute, New Delhi. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICAR, Mr. Shahidur Rashid, Director, International Food Policy Research Institute, South Asia, Mr. P.K. Joshi, Secretary, Conference and Dr. Pratap S. Birthal were also present in the conference.

Addressing the press conference, Prof. Ramesh Chand said that the Agriculture Economists Association is very old. The first summit in India was held in 1958 and will now take place after 66 years. When this conference was held in 1958, the country was struggling with many problems like poverty, hunger etc. The delegates who have come to this conference will now see a new India. The country is now talking about developed India. The per capita income in real time in India is 12- 13 thousand dollars, which is targeted to increase to 18 thousand dollars by 2047. We are focused on that and working in that direction. We are now moving away from agri commodity to holistic. Now the focus will be on food system approach and sustainable development. We will work keeping the coming generation in mind. The summit will focus on the programme for enhancing sustainable development. The theme of the conference is "Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems".

Prof. Ramesh Chand said that the conference will focus on the food system. This international conference will be held from August 02 to August 07, 2024. The conference will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. 925 people have registered in this conference and 60 to 65 students are also getting an opportunity to participate in this conference. In all, 1,000 people will attend the conference. 740 members from 75 countries are coming to participate in this conference from the world's leading universities, agricultural institutions, AGO.

Professor Ramesh Chand said that some goals have been set for this conference – young researchers will get an opportunity to make their contacts with delegates from different countries of the world and they can use those contacts for professional benefits. The problems related to agriculture have become very complex and we have to find solutions for them. Some solutions will be come out. It will be focused on how to develop the food system and go towards health. He said that 45 percent women will participate in the conference. The conference will have lectures, discussions, exhibitions etc. by eminent agricultural economists.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak said that there are many expectations from this conference. This conference is going to be held in India after 66 years. Women are 45 percent of the participants in the conference. We are going to discuss about the food system. There will be a discussion on how we move from production to food system. More than 75 countries are going to share experiences with each other in this special conference. Sustainable Development is the flagship programme of ICAR. The conference will discuss how to link all subjects with economics.

Shri Shahidur Rashid said that this conference is to move from system transformation to sustainable food system. The food system is the most important and it is a global programme.

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