Seeing the harsh impact drought has had on the world’s food supply, three United Nations institutions are joining forces to promote the development and adoption of policies to make drought-prone countries more resilient.
The World Meteorological Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, along with other partners, are holding a meeting on national drought policy on March 11-15 to focus on drought preparedness and management policies.
Drought has hampered crop, poultry and livestock production worldwide, and Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva sees a relationship between policies, improved growing conditions and a more secure food supply.
“More extreme and frequent droughts resulting from climate change are having devastating food security impacts, especially in the most vulnerable regions of the world,” the director-general said. “To buck this trend, we must build resilient, drought-resistant communities. This means not simply reacting after the rains fall, but investing over the long-term, so that when the drought does hit, people and food systems can weather the blow.”
The drought policy meeting will bring in not only governmental decision-makers, but also leading scientists and researchers.
