FAO chief bids farewell to President Kagame

The outgoing Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Dr Jacques Diouf, has commended Rwanda for efforts to ensure food security. Diouf made the remarks after paying a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame Friday, at Village Urugwiro, to bid him farewell. He was accompanied by the World Food Programme Country Director, Abdoulayye Balde Addressing reporters after meeting the President, Diouf said that the progress made in increasing agricultural production in the country, is a result of increased investment allocated to the sector especially in fertilizers and animal feed. During his discussions with the President, the FAO chief took the opportunity to review the global situation of food security at a time when approximately 925 million people globally face hunger and need assistance. He noted that for hunger to be eliminated in Africa, agricultural investments must keep up with the 2003 Maputo Declaration, where African leaders committed to allocate 10 percent of their national budgets to agriculture. Rwanda is one of the few nations that have adhered to their commitment. Presently 10.1% of Rwanda’s national budget is allocated to agriculture, a figure that is expected to rise up to 12 %. According to Action Aid’s ‘Hunger Free Scorecard’ released in October this year, Rwanda ranks third out of 28 developing countries most prepared to confront the three interlocking global challenges of climate change, resource scarcity and rising and volatile food prices. Agriculture minister Dr Agnes Kalibata hailed the outgoing head of FAO, saying that the country has benefited a lot during his tenure. “We had a good working relationship with him, and whatever we have achieved in ensuring food security in our country, is partly because of his efforts,” Kalibata said. eric.kabeera@newtimes.co.rw

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FAO chief bids farewell to President Kagame