Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel V. De Mesa received the officials of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during their courtesy meeting on October 10, 2022.
The meeting aims to further strengthen longstanding relationship of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and FAO, and discuss potential project of collaboration.
During the discussion, FAO’s Director of Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) Jingyuan Xia discussed the organization’s three-point agenda, which outlined how Asia-Pacific countries achieved an efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food system for better production, better nutrition, better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
As such, he urged the DA officials to engage and heed to their call for global actions towards Fall Army Worm (FAW); Green Development of Special Agro-Products (SAPs), or One Country – One Priority Product” (OCOP); and Upgrading of Farmers Field School.
Asec. De Mesa assured Dir. Xia that the Department fully supports FAO and will continue to collaborate closely with the organization.
He added that DA, with the approval of the President, will begin drafting guidelines for Green Revolution 2.0, which include capacity building for agricultural extension workers and improvement of activities for urban and peri-urban areas.
Also present during the meeting were Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Kristine Y. Evangelista, Bureau of Plant Industry Bureau Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban, and Agricultural Training Institute Bureau Director Remelyn R. Recoter. ### (Photos by Alan Jacalan, DA-AFID)
