More than 80 policymakers, government actors, NGO partners, academicians, and corporate houses deliberated in a multi-stakeholder interactive and consultation session on food security in Odisha on January 23 ANI UN World Food Programme WFP.
The goal of the long session was to take feedback from the different sectors to make the WFP Strategic Plan 2023 -- 2027 more inclusive and effective, said the state government in a press statement.
Mr Bishow Parajuli, Country Director WFP India said, "We are glad for our partnership with Odisha as the State is very focused on ensuring food security for all. Odisha has been a centre of innovative pilots and schemes for improving food and nutrition security. The world has taken notice of the innovative programs launched by Odisha, and how these schemes provided a food security lifeline during the current pandemic times. The application of biometric technology to make TDPS error-free, rice fortification, nutritious food in MDM and Anganwadi centres, State food security programme, women-led take-home ration production model and more are some of the interventions in Odisha Chief Secretary, Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said, Government of Odisha is fully committed to reducing poverty and malnutrition. Since last year, there has been a significant reduction in rural poverty and food security has been improved. Six more partnership agreements in new areas have been initiated in the last year, and Mahapatra asked WFP to undertake more technological applications to improve access to food security, particularly for poor and vulnerable sections. He emphasized the importance of aligning the strategic plan with SDG targets and making it more outcome-oriented. The Government of Odisha will continue to work with WFP in the coming years to implement the strategic plan, according to Mahapatra.
Development Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Jena advised to target the areas that are more vulnerable to food and nutrition security and bring them at par with the rapidly improving state parameters. He stressed on the importance of speedy achievement of SDG 2 through partnerships.