This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
On June 20, 2020, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, emphasized the need for governments to invest in food security measures to prevent shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking virtually from Nairobi, Kenya, during an online session organized by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Dr. Kalibata stressed the importance of treating food and agriculture as crucial sectors.
“Countries must start developing a post-COVID-19 pandemic plan to caution farmers and the food systems from going down,” she said.
Dr. Kalibata also highlighted the need for public-private partnerships to develop technologies that help farmers improve their farming practices and gain access to markets.
She noted that funding institutions must make resources available to farmers, as they are the backbone of the food systems, and that governments should ensure farmers produce more than they were before the pandemic.
Dr. Kalibata warned that there would be a significant problem if Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) do not operate effectively, and that governments should work together to ensure food supply systems are not affected.
She also emphasized the need for governments to invest in agriculture and ensure that farmers have access to the right seeds and fertilizers.
