To mark the long-standing relation of India with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination on the organizationโ€™s 75th anniversary on Friday.

Modi will also dedicate to the nation 17 recently developed biofortified varieties of eight crops, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.

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โ€œThe event marks the highest priority accorded by the government to agriculture and nutrition and is a testament of the resolve to completely eliminate hunger, undernourishment and malnutrition. It will be witnessed by Anganwadis, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Organic and Horticulture Missions across the country,โ€ it said.

The journey of FAO in making the vulnerable classes and masses stronger, economically and nutritionally, has been unparalleled, the statement noted, adding that India has had a historic association with the organisation.

Indian civil service officer Binay Ranjan Sen was the Director-General of FAO during 1956-1967. The World Food Programme, which has won the Nobel Peace Prize 2020, was established during his time, it said.

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Indiaโ€™s proposals for the International Year of Pulses in 2016 and the International Year of Millets 2023 have also been endorsed by FAO, it said.

โ€œThe 17 recently developed biofortified varieties of eight crops to be dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister will have up to a 3.0-fold increase in nutritional value,โ€ the statement said.

โ€œThese varieties, along with other food ingredients, will transform the normal Indian thali into Nutri-thali,โ€ it added.

The production of biofortified crop varieties will be upscaled and linked with government programmes of mid-day meal, Anganwadi etc. to reduce malnutrition and make India KuposhanMukta through naturally enriched food ingredients, the statement said.

โ€œThis will also usher in the higher income of farmers and will open new avenues of entrepreneurship development,โ€ it added.