Bilateral meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development of the Republic of South Africa - Her Excellency Angela Thoko Didiza

Rome – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Her Excellency Angela Thoko Didiza, Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development of the Republic of South Africa, met today on the sidelines of the 43rd Session of the FAO Conference.

The Minister congratulated the Director-General on the outstanding result of his re-election for a second term as FAO Director-General, noting his extraordinary achievements during his first mandate. The two proceeded to have a fruitful discussion on the important role agriculture plays in addressing the impacts of the climate crisis, and in driving economic growth. Specifically, the Minister informed that the country was working on improved integrated water resources management systems, drought resistant crops and increased capacity for research and innovation. She underscored the critical role of smallholder farmers and the need to support them further.

The Director-General thanked the Minister and the work she has been successfully spearheading. He shared with the Minister the importance of holistic designs and underscored that through smallholder farmers, improved intercropping systems, integrated water resources management, value chain management and agrifood processing systems for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

The two also agreed that innovation was critical in advancing agrifood systems transformation in South Africa, and that the country had a leading role to play in advancing this transformation across the southern Africa sub-region, incuding through the Southern African Development Community (SADC).