Fatouma Seid, FAO Representative in Ethiopia said: FAO works in migration-prone areas of Ethiopia by providing unemployed rural youth with training and equipment to start their farming businesses.

World Food Day 2017 celebrated in Ethiopia

17 October 2017, Addis Ababa – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Government of Ethiopia and key stakeholders have called for strong collaboration to create employment opportunities for vulnerable young people to sustainably tackle the root causes of migration.  

Speaking at the World Food Day event, Dr Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, said, “People migrate to escape poverty, food insecurity and lack of employment opportunities, as well as conflict and different forms of discrimination.” 

By addressing the root causes of migration, such as hunger, extreme poverty and climate change, we are at the same time working towards reaching the global Zero Hunger goal, he added. 

Dr Mulatu went on, World Food Day 2017 represents a unique opportunity to gather global awareness on the importance of integrating agriculture and rural development issues in the migration agenda at national, regional and global levels. 

In recent years, Ethiopia has given a priority for creating job opportunities for young people and those especially vulnerable to migration.   

“Our Growth and Transformation Plan II has given due emphasis to create employment opportunities for young people to reduce poverty and tackle irregular migration,” said Dr Eyasu Abreha, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “The Government of Ethiopia has allocated 10 billion ETB (USD 36 897 870.00) as a revolving fund to support young people to engage in self-employment activities.” 

Investing in agriculture means creating employment for a larger population, he added. “The agriculture sector is working to create more employment options for young people so that we can give people more options to stay at home.” 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works closely with the Government of Ethiopia on multisector issues and youth mobility, food security and rural reduction efforts.    

In her keynote address to over 250 participants of WFD2017 celebration, Fatouma Seid, FAO Representative to Ethiopia said, “Agriculture and rural development can address factors that compel people to move by creating business opportunities and jobs for young people." 

We work in migration-prone areas of Ethiopia by providing unemployed rural youth with training and equipment to start their farming businesses, she added. 

WFD2017 was celebrated in Ethiopia through different awareness-raising activities such as stakeholder’s discussion on the media, keynote addresses, musical drama on WFD theme, panel discussion and exhibition. 

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• FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all 

Contact:

Tamiru Legesse, FAO, National Communication Officer

E-mail: [email protected], Tel. 0911861293