India's commemorative 75-rupee coin.

India has minted a commemorative coin to celebrate World Food Day and the 75^th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the gesture and for the country's support. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with India as we work together toward achieving the SDGs by 2030," the Director-General expressed on Twitter.

Prime Minister Modi presented the new coin, with a face value of 75 rupees, to highlight the long standing relation of India with FAO, choosing 16 October to mark the occasion of FAO's 75^th anniversary and the 40^th celebration of World Food Day.

In a statement also announcing the launch of 17 newly-developed bio-fortified crop varieties, he emphasized the high priority his government accords to agriculture and nutrition and its resolve to completely eliminate hunger, undernourishment and malnutrition. "The journey of FAO in making the vulnerable classes and masses stronger, economically and nutritionally, has been unparalleled," the Prime Minister's office said.

FAO's mission is even more relevant amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative to the country. "The pandemic has reminded everyone that food security and nutritious diets matter to all," he said.

Sustainable Development Goal No. 2 calls for ending hunger by 2030. Southern Asia is a critical area for that challenge as 13.7 percent of the subregion's population is undernourished according to FAO's State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 report.