Regional Consultation examines food security and agricultural production risks

In a virtual knowledge exchange session held by the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regional management and technical experts heard from Member Nations’ representatives of Albania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan on the current situation in their countries, their governments’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change, and support needed from FAO.

In his opening remarks, Vladimir Rakhmanin, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, reiterated FAO support to the region, remarking that “the Regional Conference in 2022 requested that FAO identify the needs of Member Nations. This Regional Consultation is in response to that request. It is a meeting called to listen to what Members need from FAO. FAO will use this information in planning our work in the region. Strategic perspectives are necessary to ensure food security.”

The Chief Economist, Maximo Torero emphasized the importance of diversification of national production and of widening trade partners to reduce dependencies and ensure food security. He conveyed FAO’s forecast that “seed prices in the region are expected to rise in 2023.”

The Regional Consultation noted that countries in the region share common challenges. Each country cited price rises and shortages of food, energy, fertilizer, and inputs such as seeds, have been significant; in some cases, prices rose by as much as 45 percent. It was emphasized that there is a risk of reduced crop production in 2023. Some countries have lost significant export markets. Governments have responded with tax concessions, direct subsidies to farmers, incentives to increase production in important staple crops to reduce imports, sought to shorten supply chains and found new trading partners. The Open Balkan Agreement was referred to as a crucial tool in leveling access to grain, as was the Black Sea Initiative. In some countries, productivity has increased, which is a positive outcome.

Each country requested FAO’s help with mainstreaming digitalization to ensure sustainability. Improving and expanding take-up by smallholders of e-agriculture tools and systems was deemed necessary. FAO’s help was also sought with data collection and analysis. Currently, countries are challenged to develop policies and strategies because data is out of date, fragmented across the government, unreliable, incomplete, and inconsistent. During the meeting countries requested support in developing and implementing systems to collect, organize and analyze current, accurate and reliable data that meets international standards in a centralized, unified system.

Regional Programme Leader, Raimund Jehle recognized that price rises for food, energy and fertilizer have been very significant in all cases. He noted that “agriculture is very important, and it could impact the 2023 and possibly 2024 production. Some countries lost significant export markets, while others experienced record growth in agriculture in 2022.”  He gave strong assurance to all present that FAO will use the information collected at the forum for further tailoring of analysis, formulation of policy proposals to respond to the multiple crises, and further transformation of agrifood systems in the countries of the region.

26 January 2023, Budapest, Hungary