Call for proposals for Participation / Presentation

Proposals are invited from agricultural scientists, economists, academics, educational institutions, government and non-government organizations, media, social thinkers and such others to participate and or make presentations in the upcoming international conference on “Food Security and Hunger Management”, 28 - 30 July, 2011, at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi, India.

This conference is being organized against the backdrop of India being ranked 67, much lower than neighbouring China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal in the 2010 Global Hunger Index (GHI) as per the recent report released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a United States-based policy think tank. The biggest contributor to the GHI is child under-nutrition, which accounts for almost half the score. Persistent hunger, malnutrition, and ill health, made worse by the recent food and financial crises, threaten the ability of many countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. India is launching "Operation 2015" to ensure that poverty and hunger in the country are halved by 2015.

The hardest hit are populations in rural areas, especially in regions of sub- Saharan Africa and South Asia. Children and young people, particularly girls, are among the most vulnerable as hunger and malnutrition severely affect their physical and mental development and inhibit their ability to learn and participate in social and recreational activities. Youth is that powerful resource, which can take the nation to its new height. Over 85 per cent of the approximately 1 billion youth (18 per cent of the world population) live in developing countries and half of them work in the agricultural sector. There are 315 million young people aged 10–24 years in India, representing 30 percent of the country's population. The ultimate objective of this conference is to inform, influence, and catalyze action by youth at large and key actors—including policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, educators, and researchers—to better use investments in agriculture to achieve nutrition security and good health for the world's poorest people.

The conference on “Food Security and Hunger Management” primarily include the following aspects:
  — Food Grain Production and Technology Intake: Field Reality
  — Genetically Modified Crops and its Nutritional Contents
  — Future of Food Production : Reforms and Policies for Consumers and Producers
  — Food Availability, Hunger and Nutritional Security in India
  — Vicious cycle of Malnutrition and Sustainable Food Security for Women
  — Food Distribution and Storage
  — Hunger Management and Youth
  — Good Governance to ensure availability, accessibility and absorption of Food : Role of Youth

Conference Format :

The conference format will include plenary sessions, interactive discussions, small group discussions, and preparation of action plan. The details of the format will be worked out after selection of presenters.

Format for Proposals :

To submit a paper or presentation proposal, please submit an abstract of one page describing the topic to be discussed, one paragraph about the proposed speaker, and one paragraph about the organization, if any. In making a proposal, imagine that the presenter will have about 15 minutes if on a panel. A presenter may in addition or instead propose a small group exercise related to the theme.

Publication :

It is proposed to publish an edited book out of the presentations / deliberations in the conference. The presenters selected as a result of this Call will have the opportunity to publish their presentations in this book.

Deadlines :

The one page abstract of the proposal by participants/presenters should be submitted latest by 15 June, 2011 to bani@vykonline.org or vyk@vykonline.org. Selection of presentations will be made by 22 June, 2011. The final draft of papers or presentations is due for submission latest by 30 June, 2011.

Registration :

All the participants are requested to register in advance by sending dully filled in registration form through email to bani@vykonline.org. The registration fee of Rs. 1,000.00 (for Indian delegates) by way of Demand Draft in favour of Vishwa Yuvak Kendra payable at New Delhi latest by 30 June, 2011. The foreign delegates may remit the registration fee USD 200 through wire transfer, the details can be obtained after sending the registration form to the given email.

VYK will be providing boarding & lodging at the venue of the conference.

In case of any query please write to : bani@vykonline.org