SIDS to discuss food and nutrition security in Samoa

16/05/2014, Ethiopia

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) need to look at agriculture and nutrition security in a much more holistic way than before, says a senior United Nations official.

 The urgent call was made in Addis Ababa today by the UN under secretary General and High representative of Lease Developed Countries (LDCs) and SIDS, Gyan Acharya.
 
Acharya stated that the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Conference on Food & Nutrition Security in the Ethiopian capital this week is a precursor to the SIDS Conference to be held in Samoa in September 2014.
 
“You may aware in September we are convening a meeting in Samoa and the UN Secretary General is organising a climate summit in New York to sensitize the international community and garner political leadership in terms of climate change and how it links with resilience, agricultural productivity and prosperity with the people in the islands.”
 
He said preparations for the SIDS conference in Samoa and the Post 2015 development process will also be on the agenda.
 
He also emphasized the need to focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which prioritize human development such as issues related to health, access to the maternal mortality and education empowerment.  
 
On the post 2015 agenda, Acharya said it is important to consider other factors such as economic growth as well as the sustainable development issues.
 
“We’ve seen many reports coming out very strongly globally as well as the UN, on how we should be looking at sustainable development as our agenda in the next decade and thereafter. I think from that perspective when you look at the challenges from agriculture as well as nutrition on food security, I think the SIDS conference will also give priority to food security and nutrition with linkages to genuine and durable partnerships.  
 
"I think that’s the only way forward. So it fit in very well with the global dialogue we are having,” he told delegates, said Acharya.

Reports from PACNEWS Journnalist, Pita Ligaiula in Addis Ababa
SOURCE: PACNEWS

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