Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)'s highest distinction, the Agricola Medal, in Rome on Wednesday, during his ongoing visit to Italy. The award recognises his contributions to global food security and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices — and back home, farmers across India have welcomed the recognition as a moment of collective pride for the entire farming community.

Farmers Across India Welcome the Recognition

In Pune, farmers were vocal in their praise. Bharat Dighole, President of the Maharashtra State Onion Producers Farmers' Association, said the farming community was elated by the development. 'We, the farmers of Maharashtra, welcome this honour for Prime Minister and also extend our best wishes to him. In Maharashtra, crops like onions, grapes, and sugarcane are grown, soybean and many other crops are cultivated here, and farming is done on a large scale. On behalf of all these farmers, we extend our gratitude to the Prime Minister,' Dighole said.

Local Pune farmer Haji Nazim Sheikh said that whenever the Prime Minister travels abroad and speaks about Indian agriculture and farmers, it sends a positive signal to the world. He expressed confidence that with Modi's emphasis on agriculture as a driver of national growth, farmers stand to benefit significantly in the long run.

The Millet Push and Global Food Security

Sheikh also highlighted Modi's sustained advocacy for coarse cereals and millets — including Bajra, Jowar, and Ragi — on international platforms. He credited the Prime Minister's efforts for the United Nations declaring 2023 the 'International Year of Millets', which helped traditional Indian staples gain visibility on dining tables around the world.

'Prime Minister Modi has consistently championed India's cause on global platforms. It's because of this that the United Nations declared 2023 as 'International Year of Millets',' Sheikh said.

Key Schemes Drawing Farmer Appreciation

Farmers in Pune also praised the Modi government's agricultural initiatives, citing schemes such as PM-KISAN and the push for modern farming techniques as evidence of a long-term vision for the sector. This comes amid a broader policy thrust by the Centre to improve rural incomes and integrate Indian agriculture with global value chains.

What the FAO Honour Signals

The Agricola Medal is the FAO's most prestigious individual award, typically conferred on leaders who have made exceptional contributions to food security and rural development. India's role in championing millet promotion and food sovereignty in multilateral forums has drawn increasing international attention in recent years. The recognition is being seen by farming groups as an acknowledgement of that sustained diplomatic and policy effort.

As Modi continues his Italy visit, farmer organisations across states are expected to mark the occasion with felicitation programmes, signalling the domestic political resonance of the international honour.