FAO hails Azerbaijan`s accomplishments in agro sector [PHOTO]

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

FAO Country Representative and head of the organization’s Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan Melek Cakmak has praised what the country has done to develop the agrarian sector.

Cakmak, addressing a workshop which marked the launch of the FAO-Azerbaijan Partnership Programme and the first meeting of its Steering Committee, said Azerbaijan`s accomplishments in agrarian area are highlighted as an example to other countries at FAO-held regional and international events.

She expressed confidence that the Steering Committee of the FAO-Azerbaijan Partnership Programme will contribute to monitoring the implementation of projects and planning future action.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ilham Guliyev, in turn, hailed Azerbaijan-FAO cooperation.

He highlighted the country`s agrarian policy priorities: “The main goals of the state agrarian policy are to reduce dependency on the import of food products, strengthen food security and become one of food exporting countries through expanding the export potential.”

International experts made a presentation on FAO`s strategic goals and cooperation tools, development of agriculture in the Central Asia, priorities and operational framework of the FAO-Azerbaijan Partnership Programme.

The Partnership and Liaison Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations opened in Baku this February.

Azerbaijan, which joined FAO in 1995, is currently benefiting from FAO’s technical assistance in many areas, such as organic agriculture, agriculture marketing, locust management, food security, seed sector development, improved livelihoods for rural populations, animal health, and cattle breeding.

FAO’s partnership with Azerbaijan is shaped by the 2015-2019 Country Programming Framework (CPF), reflecting relevant national development plans and strategies at the same time as supporting FAO’s strategic objectives and regional priorities.

Last year, the sides have enlarged the legal base of their fruitful cooperation by signing two agreements.