Global collaboration key to combating hunger, boosting food production: Kenyan President

Addis Ababa, November 7, 2024 (FBC) – Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing hunger and increasing food production to meet the needs of growing populations.

“Global collaboration is essential to effectively fight hunger and also implement policies and programmes to boost food production to feed the rising populations,” Ruto noted in his remarks at the World Without Hunger Conference which is being held in Addis Ababa.

The closing ceremony of the three-day Conference is being held at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa in the presence of over 1,500 high-level stakeholders, including Heads of State/Government, Ministers, UN agencies, the private sector, financial institutions, donor community, DFI/IFI, civil society, non-governmental organizations, academia, and media.

Governments, international organisations, the private sector and other partners should, therefore, work together in ensuring farmers have the necessary inputs, irrigation systems and the infrastructure to prevent post-harvest losses, among others, the Kenyan leader underscored in his speech at the Conference.

The closing event also saw remarks from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Director-General Gerd Muller, UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakbout, and Deputy Chairperson of African Union Commission, Monique Nsanzabagwana.

During their remarks, the leaders called for a concerted Global Action Against Hunger.

The conference is co-organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the Government of Ethiopia, with technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).