Republic of India, ‘FAO’ Rupee, (Commemorating Rainfed Farming)

The rupee as a public pledge. In the 1960s, severe droughts left India vulnerable to widespread food shortage and provided the impetus for the Green Revolution. Providing food security for all citizens was a top national priority. So in 1968, when the United Nations’s Food and Agriculture Organisation launched the ‘FAO coin program’ to create global awareness for its work, India participated with enthusiasm. We issued 19 FAO-themed coins, more than any other nation. This 1988 rupee highlights rainfed farming, the foundation for much of our food economy.