The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have agreed to cooperate more closely
to support sustainable rice production in developing countries to improve food
security and livelihoods while safeguarding natural resources, reports
NaijaAgroNet.
An agreement signed recently in Rome, NaijaAgroNet gathered,
seeks to better pool the scientific knowledge and technical know-how of the two
organizations so that they can expand and intensify their work globally.
The partnership primarily aims to enhance sustainable
rice-based farming systems through capacity building activities - including
assisting governments draw up and implement national and regional policies and
strategies - to the benefit of small-scale farmers, especially women.
"The world faces very significant changes over the next
few decades to produce the volume and quality of nutritious food to feed a
global population heading for 10 billion people," said IRRI
Director-General Matthew K. Morell.
"Addressing these issues relies on
global partnerships, and today, IRRI is delighted to be reaffirming through
this Memorandum of Agreement our commitment to work with FAO to enhance
sustainable rice-based production and food systems through awareness raising,
capacity development, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based analyses for
policy support."
For the FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural
Resources, Maria Helena Semedo, with over three billion people across the globe
eating rice every day, rice is critical to global food security.
"Ensuring sustainable rice production is a key
contribution to the global goal of ending hunger. By teaming up with IRRI,
already a long-standing partner, we will be able to scale up, complement and
amplify our work towards reaching this goal," Semedo said.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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