Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Economic Affairs, H.E. Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the OIC Forum on the Development of Strategic Agricultural Commodities and Experts Meeting on Food Safety and Healthy Food, taking place in hybrid format in Doha, State of Qatar, from 14th to 16th February, 2022, emphasized that agricultural commodities were crucial for food and nutrition security as well as for wealth creation and alleviating poverty in a number of OIC Member States.
Within this context, he highlighted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, agricultural commodity market volatility increased remarkably and many OIC commodity dependent countries became more vulnerable. Dr. Sengendo also remarked that such vulnerability was at the core of many economic and social challenges faced by many OIC countries and addressing this phenomenon was central to achieving sustainable development, alleviating poverty and enhancing food security.
The Forum and Experts Meeting will address the issues relating to the implementation of OIC Programmes of Action for the Development of Three Agricultural Commodities, namely wheat, rice and cassava, which were endorsed by the 8th OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development held in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2021. Other issues to be discussed include food safety, Halal food standards, building resilient food systems, increasing agricultural investments, enhancing human and institutional capacities in the OIC Member States.
Source: Organization of Islamic Cooperation