NEW DELHI (Commodity Online): Indian farmers have used high yielding varieties to increase food production and successfully averted famine for several decades. However the worst monsoon of 37 years in 2009 brings into sharp focus further work required to improve food safety. Private sector including major US corporates have complimented government efforts to address the issue of food security according to a new book, "Unlocking India's Rural Sector: US Industry contributions" released by US-India Business Council.

India's Secretary for Agriculture T. Nanda Kumar unveiled the book at a joint roundtable with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Council on Agriculture and Food Processing senior executives and delegates of the USIBC’s 2009 Food Security & Rural Development Mission to India.

Chairman of CII’s National Council on Agriculture and Food Processing and Vice Chairman and Managing Director Bharti Enterprises Limited Rakesh Bharti Mittal addressed the joint session of private sector executives, speaking to the potential for Indian and American corporations to make tremendous positive impacts on the country’s rural communities. He cited the USIBC publication as highlighting some of the many examples of ways in which the private sector continues to support India’s food and advanced agricultural productivity needs.

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“India’s agricultural development will depend on leadership at the government level, but also on the technology and skills that the private sector will introduce to our farmers and rural communities. I’m delighted to unveil ‘Unlocking India’s Rural Sector: U.S. Industry Contributions’ as an example of how corporates bring value to our farmers and consumers, and will likewise look forward to the benefits that these and other companies will bring in the future,” said Secretary T. Nanda Kumar.

USIBC Director Anku Nath remarked “India’s first Green Revolution was sparked by joint U.S.-Indo scientific collaboration. ‘Unlocking India’s Rural Sector’ reveals that American companies remain committed to ensuring food security in India.” She further added, “These companies bring with them international best practices and products that have already proven effective in dramatically increasing agricultural yields in sustainable ways. Their continued involvement in India’s food and agriculture sector bodes well for farmers, consumers, and rural communities throughout the country.”

Publication Highlights:
•Bharti Walmart’s Training Centre in Punjab provides full scholarship for vocational skills training with over 1,100 enrolled so far
•Cargill’s Nourishing India brings essential nutrients to 25 million Indians
•Coca-Cola has already made tremendous strides towards becoming a net zero user of water by the end of 2009
•John Deere’s Pune tractor facility has earned the company export excellence awards and its tractors boost farmer productivity and income
•Mars, Inc’s pet foods facility brings high quality products and international best practices to the food processing sector
•Monsanto’s Bollgard II BT cotton seeds have helped India become the 2nd largest producer and exporter of cotton in the world
•Paramount Farms’ new pistachio roasting facility in Gujarat make heart healthy snacks more readily available to fight diabetes in India
•PepsiCo’s contract farming programs dramatically boost yields and its direct seeding machines reduce water usage for paddy by 30%

Spurring efficiencies in India’s agricultural production, to 4% per annum, will be essential to achieve broadly inclusive growth, while adopting international best practices and products will further reinforce food security for both urban and rural populations.

‘Unlocking India’s Rural Sector’ was unveiled at the launch of USIBC’s 2009 Food Security Mission, co-led by  Bob Milligan, Chairman, M.I. Industries and Chairman, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Paul Conway, Senior Vice President, Cargill, Inc. USIBC’s executive delegation has arrived to New Delhi to highlight the benefits American industry can introduce to India’s farmers and consumers, ranging from advanced farming implements and inputs, to value-added food processing facilities, to supply chain improvements to water sustainability techniques to healthful products for Indian consumers.

The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), formed in 1975 at the request of the Government of India and the U.S. Government to deepen trade and strengthen commercial ties, is hosted under the aegis of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  (Courtesy: Businesswire)