ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain Wednesday said the government was cognizant of the problems of farmers in view of the declining prices of agricultural products throughout the world and was doing its utmost to resolve them.
The President made the remarks while talking to Director General Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Jose Graziano da Silva, who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan was present during the meeting.
The President commended the role and contribution of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in poverty reduction, food security, sustainable livelihood and rural development in Pakistan.
The President appreciated the FAO for emergency and rehabilitation assistance regarding Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) and livelihood restoration in disaster affected areas and control of animal diseases.
The President said Pakistan has attained self-sufficiency in major food commodities and acknowledged FAO’s contribution in this regard.
President Mamnoon Hussain urged the FAO to further collaborate with Pakistan in various areas like developing a strategy for sustainable agriculture development in view of climate change and improving livelihood of small farmers.
The President assured the government’s cooperation in supporting the FAO’s activities and programmes to achieve its objectives.
Director General FAO said Pakistan has an important role to play as it was a big producer and exporter of food grains.
He appraised the President about the efforts of the FAO in helping the farmers and making them aware of the impact of climate change.