Key Facts

  • MoU Parties: Food Corporation of India (FCI) and World Food Programme (WFP)
  • Quantity of Rice: 200,000 metric tonnes (up to 25% broken rice)
  • Duration: 5 years (extendable by mutual consent)
  • Purpose: Supply rice for WFP’s global humanitarian assistance programmes

Background and Context

  • World Food Programme (WFP): Established in 1961 by the UN General Assembly and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It operates under UN authority with a dual mandate – emergency food relief and long‑term food‑security support.
  • Nobel Peace Prize: WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to combat hunger, prevent starvation as a weapon of war, and promote peace through food assistance.
  • India‑WFP Collaboration: Prior initiatives include Fortified Rice Rollout, Grain ATMs (Annapurti Devices), Jan Poshan Kendra, Smart Warehousing, and Mobile Storage Units (Flospans).

Significance for India

  • Strategic Diplomacy: The rice supply showcases India’s soft power and commitment to global food security, reinforcing its image as a responsible major power.
  • SDG Alignment: Directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger.
  • Domestic Food Management: Utilises FCI’s buffer stocks, ensuring efficient rotation of surplus grain while supporting humanitarian needs.
  • Economic Impact: Potential revenue generation and reduction in storage costs; also creates avenues for export‑linked agribusiness.

Related Constitutional / Legal Provisions

  • Article 246 & Entry 42 of the State List: Allows the Centre to regulate food distribution and storage.
  • National Food Security Act, 2013: While primarily aimed at domestic food security, the Act’s framework enables the government to allocate surplus stocks for external assistance.
  • Foreign Trade Policy (2023‑28): Encourages export of agricultural commodities, including strategic humanitarian exports.

Policy & International Implications

  • Food Security Diplomacy: Strengthens India’s bargaining power in multilateral forums such as the G20, FAO, and UN.
  • Humanitarian Aid Framework: Aligns with India’s ‘Aid for Trade’ and ‘South‑South Cooperation’ strategies.
  • Potential Extension: The MoU’s provision for extension allows flexibility to respond to future crises (e.g., climate‑induced famines, pandemics).

References