Country-driven approach needed to limit effects on food security: FAO

Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has launched a new strategy to move past the coronavirus pandemic and emphasised on working very hard to limit Covid-19's damaging effects on food security and nutrition, reports UNB.

"We must work very hard to limit Covid-19's damaging effects on food security and nutrition", Qu Dongyu, the FAO DG, said in his opening remarks launching the new strategy: "We need to be more country-driven, innovative and work closely hand in hand."

To provide a coordinated response that ensures access to nutritious food globally, resources and partnerships must be mobilised at country, regional and global level, requiring a $1.2b initial investment.

The new programme aims to mitigate the immediate impacts of the pandemic while strengthening the longer-term resilience of food systems and livelihoods.

"This is how FAO has built its Covid-19 comprehensive response and recovery programme, and today we are asking you to join us", said the FAO chief.