G-20 agri leaders vow to fight global COVID-19 crisis

New Delhi: The G-20 nations, in a video conference of agriculture ministers on Tuesday, resolved to have international cooperation in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic.

In a declaration, they vowed to avoid food wastages and losses, maintain the continuity of food supply value chain across borders.

Participating in this meeting, union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar shared the decision of India to exempt all agriculture operations during lockdown period to ensure continued availability of essential agriculture produce and supply, while adhering to protocol of social distancing, health and hygiene.


“Agriculture will not lag behind, consistent with the needs of our citizens,” he said.

The agriculture ministers of these countries resolved to work together for food security and nutrition, share best practices and lessons learnt, promote research, responsible investments, innovations and reforms that will improve the sustainability and resilience of agriculture and food systems.

The G-20 nations also agreed to develop science based international guidelines on stricter safety and hygienic measures for zoonosis control.

The G-20 meeting was organised by the Saudi Presidency to deliberate on the ways and means of ensuring continuity of food supply value chain including livelihood of farmers. It was attended by Agriculture Ministers of all G-20 members, some guest countries and International organisations.