THE Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations yesterday signed onto the United Nations’ 2016-2019 Country Programming Framework with the Ministry of Agriculture.The document targets three main priority areas: Food and nutrition security; sustainable management of natural resources; and climate change and agriculture, fisheries, forestry and hinterland development. The framework is, howevr, reportedly not strictly limited to these areas.

FAO’s Country Representative, Mr. Ruben Robertson, described the Country Programme as flexible. He noted that the document includes relevant programme areas in which the Guyana Government wishes to further push agriculture development.

The country programme was developed on broad-based consultations, and was focused on areas deemed priority as the two parties work together to push agriculture in the region.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder welcomed the formation of the document, noting that collaboration such as this will ensure that agriculture is given the adequate attention it merits.
He noted that the four country framework programme will not only make provisions for FAO to achieve its national development goals, but will also assist the Ministry of Agriculture in its efforts to eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

The FAO country framework programme is a planning tool, developed and co-owned and jointly implemented by the FAO and the Guyana Government. It defined the priority areas in which both parties agreed to work over the medium-term in pursuit of national developmental objectives.

By Navendra Seoraj