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Zambia has highlighted the urgent need for countries to begin investing in digital agriculture, renewable energy, and climate-resilient farming practices, with a strong focus on supporting smallholder farmers, youth, and women.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy, Patricia Kondolo also called for regional cooperation and capacity-building initiatives that would enable Member States to adopt and adapt technological innovations to their unique local contexts.
Kondolo said this during the 44th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference held in Rome, Italy.
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies in Rome also paid tribute to FAO’s 80 years of service, recognizing the organization as a key partner in Zambia’s national and regional efforts to end hunger, build resilience, and promote sustainable development.
She reaffirmed Zambia’s continued support for FAO and expressed the country’s commitment to working closely with the organization and other Member States to accelerate progress towards resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agri-food systems.
During her contribution to the General Debate, held under the theme: “The State of Food and Agriculture: Fostering Innovation for Food Security,” the Ambassador highlighted the significant challenges Zambia was currently facing in ensuring food security.
“Climate change, intensified by the effects of El Niño, contributed to severe droughts, as well as La Nina, which contributed to the flood situation, due to above average rainfall, both situations negatively affected maize production,” Kondolo said.
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She said combined with rising input costs and global market volatility, these factors made access to nutritious food increasingly difficult, especially for vulnerable communities.
This high-level session gathered Member States to determine the policy direction of the organization, approve its budget, and address key governance matters, including the appointment of the Independent Chairperson of the FAO Council and the election of new Council Members.
The conference closed with the adoption of the report.
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