FAO Director-General and CIMMYT Director General discuss stronger partnership

25 November 2019, Rome - FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu met today with Prof. Martin Kropff, Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), to explore ways to further strengthen the collaboration between the two Organizations.

They both agreed on the need to establish concrete actions, through the development of a collaborative workplan, on issues such as the fight against fall armyworm.  

In their talks, the parties stressed the importance of small-scale farmers and exchanged views on how to further support them, by improving the quality of seeds,promoting mechanization and enhancing access to markets. .

The FAO Director-General, presented the Organization’s new Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which was welcomed by CIMMYT Director General. 

Prof. Martin Kropff applauded the Director-General’s initiatives focused on empowering women and youth and noted the progress made to date with the establishment 0f Youth and Women Committees at FAO.