The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), marked World Food Day at an event held under the auspices of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera on Friday. The event theme called for collective action towards “better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life”.
Through a video message shared at the event, President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated FAO, IFAD and WFP for commemorating World Food Day and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening food and nutrition security for all. “Sri Lanka is at a crucial and critical juncture with high levels of food insecurity.
We are thankful to the United Nations system, multilateral and bilateral partners, and the donor community for joining hands and building this strong partnership to address the current crisis, “he said.
Delivering the keynote address at the event Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that with nearly 30 to 35 percent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, Sri Lanka needed to invest deeply in modernising and developing the agriculture sector, adding that his “government is fully committed to achieving this gigantic task. Agriculture and food security remain a national priority.”
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera aoutlined the introduction of a new Agriculture Policy to Parliament focusing on modernising and building resilience to enable the agriculture sector to withstand future crises. “I thank the FAO for the technical support extended to build a modern, resilient agriculture sector in Sri Lanka,” he concluded.
FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Vimlendra Sharan said the organisation’s commitment to helping Sri Lanka build back better during this time. “FAO is committed to working with the government to ensure that the most vulnerable fishers and farmers, crucial to ensuring food security in Sri Lanka, are protected from the worst impacts of the crisis while providing essential agriculture inputs, such as seeds and fertiliser, through the support of our partners to boost production and help Sri Lanka move towards becoming a food secure nation,” he said.
Sherina Tabassum, IFAD’s Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, underlined the fundamental role of smallholder farmers in guaranteeing food security for a community and for a country. “Our goal is to ensure that the backbone of our food system – smallholder farmers – are prepared for, and can overcome, the devastating effects of the pandemic, climate change and other external shocks.