FAO, IFAD, WFP renew commitment to strengthening food security in Sri Lanka

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday renewed commitment to strengthening food security in Sri Lanka.

They pledged at an event held to mark the World Food Day in Colombo, which was attended by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday.

The event theme called for collective action towards “better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life”. 

Through a video message shared at the event, President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated the FAO, IFAD and WFP for commemorating the World Food Day and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening food and nutrition security for all. 

“Sri Lanka is at a crucial and critical juncture with high levels of food insecurity. We are thankful to the United Nations system, multilateral and bilateral partners and the donor community for joining hands and building this strong partnership to address the current crisis,” he said. 

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Gunawardena pointed out that with nearly 30 to 35 percent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, Sri Lanka needed to invest deeply in modernising and developing the agriculture sector, adding that his “government is fully committed to achieving this gigantic task. Agriculture and food security remain a national priority”. 

FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Vimlendra Sharan emphasised the organisation’s commitment to helping Sri Lanka build back better during this time.

“The FAO is committed to working with the government to ensure that the most vulnerable fishers and farmers, crucial to ensuring food security in Sri Lanka, are protected from the worst impacts of the crisis while providing essential agriculture inputs, such as seeds and fertiliser, through the support of our partners to boost production and help Sri Lanka move towards becoming a food secure nation,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Amaraweera used the platform to announce the introduction of a new agriculture policy to Parliament, focusing on modernising and building resilience to enable the agriculture sector to withstand future crises. The FAO, IFAD and WFP together with the United Nations system in Sri Lanka are on the ground delivering emergency cash assistance, essential fertiliser and livelihood support to the most vulnerable communities in affected districts.