At a side event organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during the UN Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI) Forum in New York on May 6, 2026, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Yojna Patel, shared practical lessons from India’s agricultural transformation.
Patel outlined how India has combined technology, policy and partnerships to make agriculture more productive, climate-resilient and inclusive. Key elements she highlighted included:
– Digital tools and data: use of digital platforms, remote sensing and mobile advisory services to deliver timely weather forecasts, soil-health information and crop management advice to farmers.
– Climate-smart practices: promotion of drought-tolerant varieties, efficient irrigation, and precision farming techniques to reduce risk and conserve resources.
– Inclusive digital infrastructure: leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure to widen access and ensure smallholders benefit from technology.
– Innovation ecosystems: fostering collaboration among government, research institutions, start-ups and the private sector to accelerate adoption and scale solutions.
The remarks were delivered on the sidelines of the 11th annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on STI for the SDGs, held May 6–7, 2026 in Conference Room 4 at UN Headquarters. The forum was convened by ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa and co-chaired by Zambia’s Permanent Representative Chola Milambo and Austria’s Permanent Representative Gregor W. Koessler.
Organized under the UN Interagency Task Team on STI for the SDGs (IATT) and convened by UN-DESA and UNCTAD, the STI Forum brings together governments, experts and stakeholders to align science, technology and innovation efforts with the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, scheduled for July 6–15, 2026 under ECOSOC.
