Convener News Desk
New Delhi, August 25: India has stepped up its role in the global fight against hunger by formalising a new partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
According to Press Information Bureau (PIB), a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed on Monday between the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) and WFP, under which India will supply fortified rice to support the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations in crisis-hit regions worldwide.
The move comes at a time when food insecurity has emerged as a pressing global challenge, exacerbated by conflicts, climate shocks, and shrinking humanitarian funding. India, with its agricultural surplus, is positioning itself as a reliable partner in addressing these urgent needs.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of DFPD, underlined India’s philosophy of global solidarity. “India is committed to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the earth is one family – and collective responsibility towards each other and our shared future. Our humanitarian support for communities in need, facing food insecurity, is part of this approach,” he said.
The WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling hunger, hailed the initiative as a crucial step. Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of WFP, said the collaboration underscored India’s role as a dependable contributor to international humanitarian efforts. “We deeply appreciate India’s steadfast commitment to fostering a food-secure and peaceful world. This partnership reflects our joint intent to strengthen global efforts and ensure sustained support for those in need,” he said, expressing gratitude for India’s continued engagement.
The LoI is a culmination of discussions held earlier this year during a WFP Executive Board side event in Rome in February 2025, where India and WFP explored pathways for cooperation. The agreement aims to establish a dependable supply chain of Indian food grains for humanitarian distribution, ensuring timely delivery of fortified rice to crisis-affected populations across continents.
In addition to fortified rice supplies, India and WFP are already working together on multiple initiatives. These include optimizing supply chains for food distribution and procurement, scaling up the rollout of fortified rice to improve nutritional security, introducing Annapurti devices or ‘grain ATMs’ to make subsidised food more accessible, establishing Jan Poshan Kendras to promote community nutrition, deploying smart warehousing technologies, and setting up Flospans (mobile storage units) to enhance food storage and logistics in challenging terrains.
Officials said these efforts together mark a holistic approach that combines food security with technological innovation, creating models that can be replicated globally.
The event was attended by senior dignitaries including Ashutosh Agnihotri, Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India; Samir Wanmali, WFP’s Asia-Pacific Regional Director; Elisabeth Faure, WFP’s India Country Director; along with senior officers of DFPD.
With this partnership, India has reinforced its position as not only a regional but also a global leader in humanitarian assistance. By supplying fortified rice to WFP operations worldwide, India aims to contribute meaningfully to the fight against hunger and malnutrition, embodying its broader vision of shared responsibility and global well-being. (PIB)
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