The Director-General of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu, on Tuesday, paid a courtesy call on Vice President Faisal Naseem. The meeting was held at the President’s Office this morning.
The Vice President and the Director-General spoke on the challenges to food security and adapting to the dynamic changes seen around the world. They discussed a wide range of issues, including the economic hurdles caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of encouraging people to be more involved in ensuring food security through self-sufficiency.
The Vice President highlighted that the Maldives, heavily reliant on imports and tourism, were "hit hard" by the pandemic. He said that the pandemic brought to light unforeseen challenges and that technical expertise and support from the FAO would greatly assist the Maldives in mitigating the effects of such events in the future. Citing the limited land area and resources at our disposal, the Vice President sought assistance from the FAO in developing more innovative solutions to develop agricultural activities.
At the meeting, Mr Dongyu said that FAO is working closely with the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture and expressed hopes of establishing a permanent presence in the Maldives soon. He also stressed that the collaboration from UN agencies in the efforts by the FAO in the Maldives had been immense.
Highlighting his recent visit to Maniyafushi Island in the Kaafu Atoll, Mr Dongyu also commended the efforts of the government towards the development of mariculture, stating that the Maldives needs to invest more in research and development. He added that the FAO is ready to provide the necessary support and assistance in training and capacity building.
Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan, the Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, and Ms Catherine Haswell, the UN Resident Coordinator for the Maldives, attended today’s meeting.
