By: Staff Writer
February 19, Colombo (LNW): The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will hold its 37th Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC37) in Colombo..
The overarching goal of FAO’s programme in Sri Lanka continues to be the reduction of food insecurity, malnutrition and vulnerabilities, and the sustainable management and use of the country’s natural resources.
The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr QU Dongyu, arrived on Sunday in Sri Lanka for a three-day visit to participate in the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC37).
The event, hosted by Sri Lanka from 19 – 22 February, will see the participation of Government Ministers and Heads of Delegations from as many as 46 Member Nations gathering in Colombo.
The Director-General was received at the airport by Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture in Sri Lanka, Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, and Vimlendra Sharan, the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka.
During his stay, the Director-General will also visit agricultural sites, and is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral discussions with Sri Lankan leadership and Ministers from other Asia-Pacific countries.
The APRC37, convened by FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka, marks a major international, multilateral milestone in an effort to reform agrifood systems across the Asia-Pacific region.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Director-General are expected to inaugurate the Ministerial session of the conference on Tuesday, 20 February, with delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region participating.
The objective is to outline a pathway toward a full recovery from the pandemic and other converging crises, and reinforce ways to rebuild and transform the region’s agrifood systems, delivered through better production, better nutrition, a better environment and leading to a better life for all – leaving no one behind.
The Asia Pacific Regional Conference will facilitate discussions among agriculture ministers and officials from 46 member countries to address food and agriculture challenges and priorities, promoting regional coherence.
The Ministerial session, scheduled for February 19 to 22, 2024, will be preceded by a Virtual Senior Officers Meeting, chaired by the Secretary, Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Janaka Dharmakeerthi and presented for adoption,
FAO has supported Sri Lanka for over 40 years, implementing Good Agricultural Practices and developing the fisheries sector for growth and climate resilience, highlighting innovative partnerships with the government, said Vimlendra Sharan.
Sri Lanka’s hosting of the 37th APRC showcases its commitment to sustainable agriculture growth, demonstrating its commitment to regional development and partnership with other countries.
The APRC agenda will feature a forum on agritourism, aimed at recognizing Sri Lanka’s potential as an agritourism destination and generating foreign exchange.
