The United Arab Emirates has pledged $2 billion to help develop a series of 'food parks' in India to tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East. These investments could increase India's food yields in the region three-fold in just five years.
The parks would bring farmers, processors, and retailers together using advanced climate technology to minimize waste, conserve water and maximize crop yields, focusing at first on crops including potatoes, rice, and onions. The four countries would also advance renewable energy projects in India, including wind and solar energy plants. The projects will be supported by the Israeli and US private sectors.
UN agencies warned this month that the war in Ukraine and climate change could push starvation and mass migration to unprecedented levels. Apart from benefiting local farmers, the food parks would help reduce trade barriers and unify food safety standards, Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said in New Delhi. They would also provide India with an opportunity to benchmark its perishable food products for global export and allow Indian produce access to the strategic Gulf markets starting with UAE, Kwatra said.
Source: zawya.com