Agriculture Ministry, FAO Celebrate World Food Day

Damascus, (ST) – Under the slogan “Let’s change the future of migration … invest in food security and rural development”, the Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday, in cooperation with the World Food Organization (FAO), organized a celebration of World Food Day in the Zabadani region, Damascus Countryside.

Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Al-Qadri confirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO decided to celebrate this year World Food Day in an untypical way and away from closed halls through the participation of farmers on the field day, including the planting of fruit trees in the plain of Zabadani as a support for farmers in the region and send a message to their children that we continue their support.

Mr. Al-Qadri said that the government will provide support to farmers whose lands and trees were severely damaged through the uprooting of fruit trees, which exceeded 544 thousand trees with an area of 13 thousand dunums. He explained that the ministry in the coming phase has an integrated program to restore agriculture and farmers to the production process.

FAO Representative Adam Yao noted that the cooperation between the organization and Syria dates back to 1945. During this period, FAO worked to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture and government agencies working in the agricultural sector. We are now moving towards helping the Syrians to produce their own food by generating income opportunities and securing employment opportunities whereas the organization is seeking financial support through increasing financial resources in contact with donor countries to be able to employ them in support of Syrian farmers to help them return to their land and production, thereby seeking to restore the Syrian agriculture, which was Self-sufficiency and produce surplus to dozens of countries.

The Director of Agriculture of Rural Damascus Dr. Ali Saadat that this step is important to support the affected farmers in the area of Zabadani by helping them to reclaim their land and ensure the plants and technical advice over the next three years, the number is large and exceeds half a million and more importantly, we started building this method in a scientific way by choosing suitable varieties. This field was cultivated today with three varieties of apples and a variety of pears.

FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Organization in 1945. Events are organized in over 150 countries across the world, making it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. 

Sh. Kh.