Organization
of the United Nations
History of Agency in the World and Iran
• 1943: FAO was founded by 44
governments who met in Hot Springs, Virginia, US.
• 1945: the 1st Session of FAO
Conference was held in Quebec City, Canada and established FAO as a specialized UN agency.
• 1951: FAO Headquarters moved from
Washington, DC, US to Rome, Italy.
• 1953: Effective December 01, Iran is
a member to FAO.
• 1981: The first World Food Day
observed on 16 October.
• 1992: Effective May, the FAO
Representation Office was re-opened in Iran.
• 1996: World Food Summit, Rome, Italy.
• 1997: FAO launched campaign against
hunger initiative TeleFood.
• 2002: “World Food Summit 5 Years
Later” was held to review WFS achievements.
• 2008: High Level Conference on World
Food Security, the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy, Rome, Italy.
Priorities Globally and in Iran
FAO’s
Vision and Global Goals: FAO’s vision is of a world free of hunger and
malnutrition where food and agriculture[1]
contributes to improving the living
standards
of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and
environmentally sustainable manner. To foster the achievement of this vision
and of the Millennium Development Goals, FAO will promote the continuing
contribution of food and sustainable agriculture to the attainment of three
global goals: Reduction of the absolute number of people suffering from hunger,
progressively ensuring a world in which all people at all times have
sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life; Elimination of poverty and the
driving forward of economic and social progress for all with increased food
production, enhanced rural development and sustainable livelihoods; Sustainable
management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air,
climate and genetic resources, for the benefit of present and future
generations.
FAO’s Strategic Objectives: Sustainable
intensification of crop production; Increased sustainable livestock production;
Sustainable management and use of fisheries and aquaculture resources;
Sustainable management of forests and trees, land, water and genetic resources,
and improved responses to global environmental challenges affecting food and
agriculture; Improved quality and safety of foods at all stages of the food
chain; Enabling environment for markets to improve livelihoods; Improved food
security and better nutrition; Improved preparedness for, and effective
response to, food and agriculture threats and emergencies; Gender equity in
access to resources, goods, services and decision-making in rural areas, and
increased and more effective public and private investment in agriculture and
rural development.
Main projects/activities in Iran
In
line with the priorities of the Government for sustainable agriculture and
rural development, FAO’s focus, in the medium term is to seek enhanced
investment in agriculture, especially, at the value-chain level, to increase
income and employment opportunities for the rural poor.
FAO
has assisted Iran in the preparation of Framework for Sustainable Agriculture
Development Strategy in June 2005. Similarly, the National Strategy and Action
Plan on Drought Preparedness, Management and Mitigation in the Agriculture
Sector was prepared in 2007 to enhance the capacity of Government in disaster
management.
The
3 to 5 years National Medium Term Priority Framework (NMTPF) is being
formulated within 2009 to contribute to the Government’s endeavours towards
sustainable agriculture and rural development. NMTPF aims at: (a) mainstreaming
the rural and low-income farmers in the development process to improve their
livelihood, food security and nutritional status; (b) harnessing the network of
research and academic institutions and high quality expertise of Iran to assist
other countries of the region through the South-South Cooperation; (c)
promoting agri-commercialization and export oriented agriculture.
FAO
is assisting Iran Fisheries Organization to develop a comprehensive programme
of fisheries development to ultimately achieve per annum target of 1.5 million
tons of production as per the Vision 2025 Document. FAO’s technical assistance
within the framework of sustainable fisheries development and ecosystem based
approach could be given in the following possible areas: (i) Marine fisheries
development; (ii) Aquaculture development; (iii) Value chain investment to
capture the export markets; and, (iv) Institutional and capacity strengthening.
Assistance
in the seed sector is also being provided to ensure: (a) more efficient seed
production, distribution and marketing systems; and (b) enhanced plant variety
protection capacity in the country.
FAO
has also introduced a novel participatory and environmentally friendly approach
through Farmer Field Schools to promote organic agriculture and biological
control of pests and diseases in various crops including wheat, cucumbers,
tomatoes etc. A project to protect pistachio crop and industry from aflatoxin
contamination is also being implemented.
A
GEF related project has recently been approved for FAO to assist the Government
in preparing an important project: Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and
Degraded Land with Particular Attention to Saline Soils and Areas Prone to Wind
Erosion.
In
the animal health sector, FAO is assisting the government to combat Foot
and mouth disease and institute measures
for prevention and control of avian influenza.
FAO, through international
communication campaigns, such as World Food Day and Telefood, plays an
important role in raising public awareness of hunger and poverty in mobilizing
support for achieving food security.
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Address: Room 1701,17th
Floor, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture,Keshavarz Boulevard,Tehran,
Iran P.O. Box 15875/4557 Tel: (98-21) 8136 3701-2/8896 0731
E-mail: FAO-IR@fao.org Facsimile: (98-21) 8896 4104
website: www.fao.org |