Bhubaneswar: Valerie N. Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director for Program and Policy Development at the World Food Programme (WFP), met with Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, to discuss ongoing and future collaborations between WFP and the state government. The meeting took place during Guarnieri’s visit to Odisha, where she engaged with state officials to strengthen the shared goal of enhancing food security and reducing malnutrition.
Guarnieri, who is based in Rome, congratulated Singh Deo on his new role as Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Energy, lauding his efforts in driving inclusive growth in agriculture. “On behalf of WFP, I express gratitude for the continued partnership and the support from the Department of Agriculture for the various projects we are jointly undertaking with the Odisha Government,” she stated.
The Deputy Chief Minister acknowledged WFP’s technical expertise and praised the alignment between the organisation’s initiatives and the state’s commitment to enhancing food security and improving livelihoods for vulnerable communities. “We value the World Food Programme’s support, especially in strengthening agriculture resilience in Odisha. Our collaboration will help build a more inclusive and food-secure future for the state,” Singh Deo said.
One of the key areas discussed was Odisha’s newly developed strategy to augment cold storage capacity, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses. Guarnieri commended this initiative and reiterated WFP’s full commitment to supporting the state in this endeavor.
Guarnieri also informed the Deputy Chief Minister about a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, and WFP India for a regional adaptation project titled Adaptation for Resilience, which will also be implemented in Odisha.
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, highlighted WFP’s immense contribution to shaping the department’s policies and initiatives, stating, “We look forward to a continued and forward-looking partnership with WFP in the areas of agri-food systems and policy coherence in the years to come.”
The meeting was also attended by Subhranshu Mishra, Additional Secretary, members of the Climate Resilience Cell of the Department of Agriculture, and senior WFP officials including Representative and Country Director Elisabeth Faure and State Office Head Himanshu Bal.
WFP has been actively working in Odisha since 1986, initially supporting tribal communities through Food for Work activities. Over the years, the focus has shifted to providing technical assistance to the Government of Odisha, particularly in improving food security and addressing malnutrition.