Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday shared the transformational progress by the state on strengthening livelihood and food security with a specific focus on marginalised communities and women at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) headquarters in Rome.

Naveen delivered an address in the presence of WFP executive director David Beasley and the leadership team of WFP, said a release issued by the chief minister’s office.

“Over the last two decades, Odisha has been through a transformational journey in the field of food production, food security, livelihoods, disaster management, and so on. By attaining food sufficiency, initiating large-scale development programmes designed around creating climate-resilient livelihoods and nutrition, and focussing on partnerships, the state is moving consistently towards Sustainable Development Goals and inclusive development,” Naveen said.

Welcoming the chief minister, Beasley said: “It is a pleasure to welcome the chief minister of Odisha and share our impressions on the innovative work the State is doing in partnership with WFP in India. Our joint goal of strengthening livelihoods and food security across Odisha is being translated into action with a series of ambitious projects to support inclusive development and new economic opportunities, especially for women. It’s exciting to see how our collaboration is helping to drive Odisha’s progress towards achieving Zero Hunger and the other UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

WFP also appreciated the transformational work of the state in the fields of disaster management, food production, and food security.

“We have discussed, today, that the government of Odisha and WFP will collaborate to take forward this learning experience and provide a global training platform,” Beasley said.

Also present at the event in Rome were Valerie N. Guarnieri, assistant executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, Manoj Juneja, assistant executive director of the United Nations World Food, Bishow Parajuli, representative and country director, WFP India and Himanshu Bal, Odisha state head, WFP India.

Secretary to the chief minister V.K. Pandian, principal secretary food and civil supplies V.V. Yadav, and resident commissioner Ravikanth were present during the deliberations.

WFP and the government of Odisha currently working on bringing transformation of the public distribution system and paddy procurement, the grain ATM and Smart Mobile Storage Units, the use of evidence on food and nutrition security for planning; programme monitoring partnership with Odisha Millet Mission, secure fishing with fisheries & animal resource development and partnership with the Mission Shakti programme – a formidable network of seven million women formed into six hundred thousand women self-help group.