The African Union Commission (AUC), Thailand's Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives, the National Geographic Society and the
non-profit World Rural Forum have received awards from the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) for their outstanding efforts in supporting Zero Hunger, and
improving nutrition as well as raising awareness of the challenges facing the
world's food systems, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The awards ceremony, which took place at FAO headquarters at
the start of the organization's governing council, is the last in a series of
events this year marking the 70th anniversary of the UN agency's founding.
Former FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf attended the
ceremony and presented an award named in his honor to Erastus Mwencha, Deputy
Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The award recognizes the
AUC's efforts to boost sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition
through its Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme
(CAADP).
NaijaAgroNet reports that FAO recognized CAADP was helpful
in paving the way to the commitment at the 23rd AU summit in Malabo to eradicate
hunger in Africa by 2025.
The AUC shares the award with the World Rural Forum, a
globe-spanning network of rural organizations and researchers, which works to
support dialogues among rural communities and its policy advocacy on behalf of
family farmers.
FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva in a video
message congratulated the winners and said "Our mission now is to help
countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal, and prepare a greater
event in 2030 to celebrate the eradication of hunger and extreme poverty. We
have the conditions for that. Let us be the first generation free from hunger.
Let us all work together to make it a reality."
The awards ceremony featured a special musical performance
by a well-known Rome-based musical group, the Piazza Vittorio Orchestra, and a
young multi-ethnic band the Piccola Orchestra di Tor Pignattara.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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