FAO commits to support Congo to reach the 'Zero hunger' goal
Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will support Congo to develop its agriculture and fight against hunger, FAO regional director for Africa, Haile Gabriel Abébé, told the Speaker of the National Assembly, Isidore Mvouba and the president of the Senate, Pierre Ngolo on Wednesday in Brazzaville.
Mr. Abebe, who is in Congo for the Investing in Africa Forum, met separately with the two officials to discuss the modalities of a collaboration in the agricultural sector.
The FAO official was keen to exchange views with these two figures, in view of the role that the two parliamentary chambers play in food and nutrition security.
"The Senate and the National Assembly have established a parliamentary alliance for food and nutrition security in 2018. Congo is, so far, the first country in Central Africa to establish this type of alliance. This is a way for FAO to position parliaments to continue to play their role in food and nutrition security properly," said Mr. Abebe after his meeting with the Senate President.
The aim of this approach is to promote the emergence of agriculture in Congo. A sector that provides wealth and creates jobs, but of which only 2 percent of land is developed, out of ten million hectares of fertile land it has.
The ultimate goal is to strengthen food and nutrition security in the country, in order to enable everyone to eat and satisfy their food requirement in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
"Congo has huge agricultural opportunities. Apart from its very favourable climate, it is abundantly watered by the River Congo. The partnership to be signed with Congo will enable it to boost agriculture so that Congolese produce enough and reach the 'Zero Hunger' goal," Abébé stressed.
-0- PANA MB/JSG/BBA/AR 12Sept2019
