DOHA, Qatar: In a significant step towards addressing critical issues related to food security and agricultural development, the preparatory meeting for the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference has commenced in Doha, Qatar. Hosted by the State of Qatar, the conference is scheduled to take place from October 1st to 2nd, 2023, and is themed as “Towards Achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in OIC Member States.”
Preparatory meeting for 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on #FoodSecurity kicks off in #Doha, #Qatar. #OICFoodSecurityConference #SDGs pic.twitter.com/qYvCGYzS7f
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) October 1, 2023
Addressing the gathering at the preparatory Senior Officials Meeting, Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, the OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, emphasized the importance of this gathering as an opportunity to share best practices in the fields of agriculture and rural development. He also stressed the need to discuss effective ways to implement OIC programs and initiatives, with a focus on achieving policy coherence in agricultural and rural development.
Dr. Sengendo highlighted some significant statistics regarding agriculture in OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) countries. These countries collectively possess approximately 28.7 percent of the world’s arable land. Furthermore, nearly 48.3 percent of the population in OIC Member States reside in rural areas and rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
He called for the prioritization of agricultural sector renewal in development initiatives and strategies. Dr. Sengendo underscored the critical importance of fostering effective cooperation among OIC Member States to counteract the concerning decline in agricultural productivity and the management of natural resources. Additionally, he emphasized the need to increase both public and private investment in sustainable agricultural development.
In the pursuit of enhanced food security and agricultural sustainability, Dr. Sengendo stressed the importance of embracing new technologies and systems for food transformation. The ultimate goal is to fortify agricultural sectors and food systems in OIC Member States, making them more resilient, efficient, sustainable, and inclusive.
As the conference unfolds in Doha, it serves as a pivotal platform for collaborative efforts aimed at addressing the pressing challenges related to food security and agricultural development in OIC Member States. The deliberations and strategies formulated here are expected to play a crucial role in advancing the region’s agricultural sector and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals by 2030.
