Published: 19 February 2026PIB / DD News / The Week / Daily ExcelsiorEconomy
FCI Signs Five-Year MoU with World Food Programme to Supply 2 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Rice for Global Hunger Relief
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on February 18, 2026, committing to supply 2 lakh metric tonnes of rice to support global humanitarian operations aimed at combating hunger.
The MoU was signed by Rabindra Kumar Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of FCI, and Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of WFP, in the presence of the Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution. The MoU is valid for five years from the date of signing, extendable by mutual consent. FCI will supply rice with a maximum of 25% broken grain permissible, meeting WFP's humanitarian quality standards. The price has been fixed at ₹2,800 per quintal until March 31, 2026, to be mutually agreed annually thereafter.
This agreement positions India as a strategic partner in global food security architecture. India holds the world's largest rice reserves, and this agreement operationalises India's commitment to use surplus food stocks for humanitarian purposes. It aligns with India's Food Security Act, 2013, and national food management policy. For Rajasthan, which is a significant wheat-producing state, the deal underscores India's capacity to leverage agricultural surpluses for diplomatic and humanitarian ends.
0Mains angle
Q: Analyse the strategic significance of the FCI-World Food Programme MoU for India's position in global food security, with reference to the Food Security Act, 2013.
Answer (50 words):
On February 18, 2026, the Food Corporation of India signed a five-year MoU with the UN World Food Programme to supply 2 lakh metric tonnes of rice annually, up to 25 percent broken, fixed at ₹2,800 per quintal until March 31, 2026, operationalising the Food Security Act, 2013 for humanitarian purposes.
6-axis classification
CoverageInternationalSubjectEconomicExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourcePIB / DD News / The Week / Daily Excelsior
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Linked questionEasy
How much rice will FCI supply to WFP under the five-year MoU?
Explanation · Correct answer CUnder the five-year MoU, the Food Corporation of India will supply 200,000 metric tonnes, i.e. 2 lakh metric tonnes, of rice to the World Food Programme for global humanitarian operations. Therefore, option C is correct; the other quantities do not match the MoU.
Frequently asked questions
When did FCI sign the MoU with WFP and what are the key terms of the agreement?
FCI (Food Corporation of India) signed a 5-year MoU with WFP (World Food Programme) on February 18, 2026. Under the agreement, FCI will supply up to 2 lakh metric tonnes of rice annually for WFP's global hunger relief operations, priced at ₹2,800 per quintal with up to 25% broken rice acceptable.
What is the World Food Programme (WFP) and what is its global reach?
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organisation addressing hunger, providing food assistance to over 150 countries. The FCI-WFP MoU positions India as a key contributor to WFP's global hunger relief operations.
How does the FCI-WFP MoU align with India's foreign policy?
The FCI-WFP MoU aligns with India's foreign policy principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family), extending food aid globally and leveraging India's large food grain buffer stocks to contribute to international food security.
What is the full form of FCI and what is its primary role in India's food security?
FCI stands for the Food Corporation of India. It is the nodal agency responsible for procurement, storage, and distribution of food grains to maintain India's food security and buffer stocks, and now extends this role to global humanitarian efforts through the WFP partnership.
