During her first visit to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Secretariat, FAO Representative, Ms. Minà Dowlatchahi called on Mr. Ikram Ullah Gandapur, the Provincial Minister for Agriculture and assured him of FAO’s full support in realizing the priorities of the KP government.

Highlighting the importance of partnerships in providing technical assistance, the FAO Representative said: “FAO’s strategy focuses on improving food security and nutrition, through rural development and enhancing incomes sustainably, tackling climate change and building resilience to shocks and disasters.”

The minister acknowledged FAO’s key role in agricultural development and ensuring food and nutrition security across the country and especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He appreciated the key role that FAO has played on resettlement of TDPs and asked for additional technical assistance and collaboration, in the emerging areas of Climate Change, Natural Resource Management as well as Transboundary Animal Diseases.

Mr Mohammad Israr, Secretary Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives delivered a presentation on “Vision of Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives Department” in which the initiatives that the government of KP was planning to undertake in the agriculture sector were presented.

Senior officials from various departments of the provincial agriculture department contributed their ideas on how FAO and KP government could cement their collaboration to ensure better lives for all those who rely on agriculture for their livelihood.