Agriculture single major factor in food security: President

President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday said agricultural growth is a singular contributory factor for food security and plays a pivotal role in creating employment opportunities and promoting socio-economic development.

"By 2030 global food production has to increase by forty percent to keep pace with the world demand. One billion people, representing 14 percent of the global population, are still afflicted by hunger. Asia and Africa account for most of them," he said here at the inaugural session of the Asia Africa Agri Business Summit organised by industry chamber FICCI.

The president also said enhanced crop production and productivity are key priorities in Asia and Africa. Studies have projected agriculture and agri-business to be a $3 trillion business in Africa and almost $4.5 trillion business in Asia by 2030,

--Indo-Asian New Service

ag/bc/vm