FAO cites PH in global fight vs hunger

The Philippines has been cited by the United Nation’s (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as one of 13 countries with remarkable performance in the global fight against hunger.

In a statement, FAO officials said the Philippines has achieved outstanding progress in fighting hunger, a feat attributed to the country’s meeting of “international targets ahead of the end- of-2015 deadline.”

Also in the list of countries making “great strides in fighting undernourishment,” are Brazil, Cameroon,

Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Iran, and Uruguay.

“The 13 nations posted early achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG-1) hunger target – to halve the proportion of hungry people by 2015 – or the more stringent 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the absolute number of hungry people by 2015,” it added.

At a symbolic ceremony held recently at their headquarters, FAO Director- General, José Graziano da Silva, awarded diplomas to representatives of the 13 countries.

“You have overcome major challenges in difficult global economic conditions and policy environments. You have demonstrated the will and mobilized the means,” Graziano da Silva told the recipients of the award.

Progress in eradicating global hunger over the next 10 years “is gaining momentum,” though there are more that needs to be done (for) the 805 million people that still suffer from chronic undernourishment, said the FAO official.

To achieve this, there is a need to “improve the quality and efficiency of food systems, promote rural development, increase productivity, raise rural incomes, improve access to food, and strengthen social protection,” Graziano da Silva said.

Citing global estimates, the FAO said the Philippines, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, and Mexico have now reached the MDG-1 hunger target.

Less hungry population Brazil, Cameroon and Uruguay have achieved the more ambitious WFS target of halving the number of hungry by 2015, FAO said.

To date, 63 developing countries have reached the MDG target, and six more are on track to reach it by 2015. Of the 63 countries which have reached the MDG target, 25 have also achieved the more ambitious World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the number of undernourished people by 2015, it said.

Key factors The UN State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014 (SOFI 2014) report, released earlier this year, identified several critical factors driving the success achieved by countries in reducing hunger. Chief among these is transforming political commitment into effective action.

In several countries – including Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Mauritania, Mauritius, and the Philippines – the achievement of the internationally established goals is attributable to economic growth and the policies put in place by governments over the last two decades. In most countries, interventions in agriculture have been complemented by social protection programs aiming to provide immediate relief to vulnerable population groups. (With information from the FAO website)