ISLAMABAD: Zero hunger, climate-smart resilient agriculture, sustainable ecosystems, and inclusive and efficient food systems are the priority areas that will be focused by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the new Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2018-21, currently being finalised, it was learnt on Saturday.

The five-year CPF is being jointly developed with the government and other partners, and reflects relevant priorities in key national development policies.

The zero hunger programme will cover healthy, safe and nutritious food for all while the climate-smart resilient agriculture and sustainable ecosystems will include forests, fisheries, livestock and water management.

These areas are also the key pillars of the National Food Security Policy which has recently been approved by the government. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) is currently evolving a strategy and plan of action to implement the policy in collaboration with provinces.

An evaluation of the just-ended country programme has recommended that FAO together with MNFSR should include in the next CPF, a programmatic response to the key structural changes in the agriculture sector, such as agriculture subsidies, trade, industries, rural transformation, land tenure and market development and the more persistent issue of the Fata reforms.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2018