Date:08/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040854361200.htm

National

First Global Agro Industrial Forum meet

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India will host the first-ever Global Agro Industries Forum from April 8 to 11 to “focus on strategies and actions for improving agro-industrial competitiveness in ways that can contribute to broad-based economic development and poverty alleviation.”

At a special function during the conference, the Food and Agriculture Organisation will confer its highest award, ‘Agricola Medal’ on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for “his policies and programmes to alleviate poverty and hunger.”

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will inaugurate the forum on April 9. Minister of State for Food processing Subodh Kant Sahay will preside over the closing function on April 11. About 500 delegates and government officials from 100 countries will participate in the conference.